People Power Party Says Democratic Party's Move to Impeach Choi Sangmok Aims to Paralyze Cabinet Meeting

"Preliminary Steps to Pass the Law Suspending Trials for a President-Elect"
However, the Government Maintains That the Cabinet Meeting Can Be Held as the Quorum Is Met

On May 2, the People Power Party criticized the Democratic Party of Korea's move to impeach Choi Sangmok, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, stating, "The real reason the Democratic Party carried out a surprise impeachment of former Deputy Prime Minister Choi in the middle of the night lies elsewhere." The party added, "Their intention is to intimidate other cabinet members into either resigning or facing impeachment, ultimately aiming to paralyze the Cabinet meeting itself."

The previous day, after the Supreme Court remanded Lee Jaemyung's violation of the Public Official Election Act with a guilty verdict, the Democratic Party submitted the impeachment motion against former Deputy Prime Minister Choi to the plenary session. However, just before the motion was submitted, Choi expressed his intention to resign, and former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo accepted it, so the impeachment vote did not proceed.

Kwon Seongdong, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "After blocking the president's right to request reconsideration through the Cabinet meeting, this is a preliminary step to pass unprecedented and harmful laws, such as abolishing the crime of spreading false information under the Public Official Election Act and passing a law to suspend trials for a president-elect." He continued, "The Democratic Party's real intention is to tie the hands of the Prosecutor General and freely commit election crimes that could shake the presidential race."

Kwon Seongdong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on May 2, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

He added, "Ultimately, last night's frenzied barrage of impeachment was the first step in a grand conspiracy to eliminate Lee's judicial risk and the beginning of so-called 'election crime reform.'"

In fact, with the resignation of former Deputy Prime Minister Choi the previous day, the number of cabinet members dropped to 14, raising concerns about a lack of quorum for the Cabinet meeting. According to Article 88 of the Constitution, the Cabinet must be composed of the president, the prime minister, and at least 15 but no more than 30 cabinet members.

However, since the quorum to convene the Cabinet meeting is 11, the government maintains that the meeting can still be held. According to the government, the Ministry of Government Legislation has interpreted that even if the requirement of 15 cabinet members is not met, a Cabinet meeting can be held as long as more than 11 members are present, in accordance with presidential decree. In 2009, when there were only 14 cabinet members due to a vacancy in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Government Legislation also interpreted that a Cabinet meeting could be held if the quorum was met.

However, floor leader Kwon argued, "With the Democratic Party now controlling the president's right to request reconsideration, they could push through a legal revision to allow pardons even for those on trial." He continued, "For cases still at the first trial stage, they could appoint a far-left Minister of Justice and mobilize prosecutors loyal to the Democratic Party to even attempt to drop charges."

He also claimed, "If Lee becomes president and fills the Constitutional Court with people of his choosing, he could have the relevant provision of the Public Official Election Act ruled unconstitutional and abolish the law itself. In other words, by abolishing the law, they would completely destroy the trial process?what they call 'legislative annihilation.'"

He went on to say, "The 'self-pardon project' of Lee Jaemyung's faction is a disaster that could actually happen," adding, "A Supreme Court ruling can only be completed as true justice and the rule of law when accompanied by the people's political judgment." He appealed, "The People Power Party will change. Please join forces to stop the constitutional terrorism and reckless rampage of Lee Jaemyung's faction."

Meanwhile, with former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, who had served as acting president, resigning to run for president and former Deputy Prime Minister Choi also stepping down, Minister of Education Lee Jooho assumed the role of acting president as of midnight on this day. This has resulted in an unprecedented situation of an 'acting-for-the-acting-for-the-acting president.'