Kim Yong-min "If an Early Presidential Election is Held, General Elections Can Also be Held Together"

Opposition Figures Support Lee Eon-ju's Call for Mass Resignation of Lawmakers
"In Order to Hold the National Assembly Accountable... My Personal Opinion"
"Let's Reorganize, Restructure, and Make a Fresh Start with the National Assembly"

Kim Yong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "If President Yoon Seok-yeol is impeached and an early presidential election is held, it is possible to hold the general election and the presidential election together." Kim, the party's chief policy whip, made this claim during an interview on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' on the 25th, stating that "the National Assembly should also share responsibility."

Kim Yong-min, the Democratic Party's Chief Deputy Floor Leader (center), is submitting the 'Special Investigation Act on Sedition' and the 'Special Investigation Act on Kim Gun-hee' to the National Assembly's Legislative Affairs Office on December 9 last year. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Kim added, "The party has not yet discussed this," and elaborated, "I believe that no resignation from the National Assembly should be made until this impeachment phase is resolved because there is a possibility of another declaration of martial law." He continued, "Personally, I think the National Assembly also needs to be revalidated by the people once again."

Earlier, Lee Eon-ju, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, said at the party's Supreme Council meeting the previous day, "If the Constitutional Court continues to delay the impeachment ruling on President Yoon, and if some of the justices have different opinions, we have no choice but to directly ask the people for their final decision." She argued, "If necessary, all lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties should resign en masse and hold a new general election." She added, "In such a level of internal conflict, it would be better to reorganize the National Assembly, reform the system, and make a fresh start."

On the same day, Boo Seung-chan, the party's floor deputy leader, commented on Lee's call for mass resignation on BBS Radio's 'Shin In-kyu's Morning Journal,' saying, "It is a claim beyond mere rhetoric (political declaration)." Boo said, "When martial law was lifted, the People Power Party did not participate in the vote except for 18 members. This was a violation of their duties as lawmakers." He added, "Isn't this kind of statement coming out because the lawmakers elected by the people failed to meet the people's demands?"

Some figures within the ruling party expressed support for this. Kim Min-jeon, a member of the People Power Party, wrote on social media (SNS), "I support Lee's call for mass resignation and re-election." Out-of-parliament party branch chiefs Lee Sang-gyu (Seoul Seongbuk-eul), Lee Yong (Gyeonggi Hanam-gap), Jo Gwang-han (Gyeonggi Namyangju-byeong), and Shin Jae-kyung (Incheon Namdong-eul) also posted messages supporting Lee.

Kim Gye-ri, a lawyer who is part of President Yoon's impeachment defense team, also wrote on SNS, "You say we should hold the general election again. Right, have you been enlightened?" and added, "This is the most correct thing said since I heard the name 'Lee Eon-ju.'"