Kim Yong-min: "Choi Sang-mok Should Be Impeached for Failing to Appoint Ma Eun-hyuk"
On the 24th, after the Constitutional Court dismissed the impeachment motion against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the opposition party continued to raise issues regarding Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok's failure to immediately appoint Ma Eun-hyuk, a nominee for Constitutional Court Justice, during the acting presidential period.
Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the Supreme Council meeting held at the tent headquarters set up in Gwanghwamun Square that day, "It is regrettable that the Constitutional Court dismissed Prime Minister Han's impeachment," but added, "The Court clearly stated that not appointing the three Constitutional Court Justices recommended by the National Assembly is unconstitutional."
Floor leader Park urged, "We call for the immediate resolution of the unconstitutional state of non-appointment of Constitutional Court Justices and the prompt request for the recommendation of a permanent special prosecutor according to the law," urging the appointment of nominee Ma.
Following the Constitutional Court's dismissal of Prime Minister Han's impeachment, Han immediately resumed his duties that day and once again assumed the role of acting president. Accordingly, Deputy Prime Minister Choi, who had been serving as 'Daedaehaeng'?holding the three roles of president, prime minister, and deputy prime minister?returned to his original role as deputy prime minister.
Basic Income Party leader Yong Hye-in (from the right), Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Kim Yong-min, Innovation Party floor leader Jeong Chun-saeng, and Progressive Party lawmaker Yoon Jong-oh submitted an impeachment motion against Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Economy and Finance, to the National Assembly Secretariat in Yeouido, Seoul on the 21st. Yonhap News
Kim Yong-min, deputy floor leader for policy of the Democratic Party, urged on his Facebook immediately after the dismissal of Prime Minister Han's impeachment, "(Prime Minister Han) must immediately appoint Ma Eun-hyuk as Constitutional Court Justice."
Deputy floor leader Kim stated, "Han Duck-soo was dismissed, but when individual opinions are combined, Choi Sang-mok's failure to appoint Ma Eun-hyuk as Constitutional Court Justice becomes an even clearer reason for impeachment."
On the 21st, the five opposition parties including the Democratic Party submitted an impeachment motion against then acting president Choi Sang-mok. The reasons for impeachment included Choi's failure to appoint Ma Eun-hyuk as a nominee for Constitutional Court Justice, failure to request candidates for the 'permanent special prosecutor for rebellion' approved by the National Assembly, and alleged complicity in rebellion.
Democratic Party lawmaker Park Soo-hyun appeared on YTN Radio's 'News Fighting' that morning and responded to criticisms that the impeachment motion against Deputy Prime Minister Choi was pointless by stating, "It is a principle that those who must be punished should be punished."
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