Kim Chongin: "Impeachment with Just 107 PPP Lawmakers... It's Meaningless"

Jang Donghyuk takes a hardline stance, even mentioning President Lee's impeachment
Kim Chongin: "It's just a political slogan, nothing more"
"Need to reconsider the political effect of judicial risks"

Kim Chongin, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, criticized his own party by saying, "They keep bringing up (presidential) impeachment at every turn, but to be honest, is it even possible to talk about impeachment or anything else with just 107 People Power Party lawmakers?" In an interview on CBS Radio’s "Kim Hyunjung’s News Show" on the 13th, Kim stated, "Impeachment is just being used as a political slogan. There’s no point in repeatedly discussing something that is realistically impossible."

Kim Jongin, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party. Photo by The Asia Business Daily

To pass a presidential impeachment motion in the National Assembly, at least 200 lawmakers must vote in favor. With the People Power Party currently holding 107 seats, it is not only unrealistic to impeach the president, but also difficult to initiate impeachment proceedings against a minister, which requires 150 votes.

"Since President Yoon’s inauguration, the party has been fighting over 'judicial risks'... Ultimately, President Lee took office"

Kim also commented on the People Power Party’s demand for Justice Minister Chung Sungho to resign, alleging that he exerted external pressure to drop the appeal in the Daejangdong case, saying, "I don’t think he’s going to resign just because they tell him to, so it’s just a clich? to call for his resignation."

He continued, "Since President Yoon Sukyeol took office, the People Power Party has been constantly fighting with the Democratic Party over 'Lee Jaemyung’s judicial risk.' But fighting over that has produced no results, and in the end, President Lee won the election and took office. Even now, they keep bringing up President Lee’s past judicial risks and repeating the same arguments. We need to consider whether this has any real political effect."

Jang Donghyuk takes a hardline stance, referencing 'impeachment, disaster, and Hitler' repeatedly

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, attended the "Emergency On-Site Protest Rally at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office" held in front of the main gate of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 11th, condemning the prosecution's decision to drop the appeal related to the Daejangdong case. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, has continued his hardline attacks against President Lee. At a protest rally in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 11th, Jang said, "Despite the largest development corruption crime since the founding of the nation receiving some not-guilty verdicts, the prosecution gave up on appealing. Everything is because of Lee Jaemyung, and we must impeach Lee through a parliamentary investigation and a special prosecutor." The next morning, on the 12th, he again attended a protest rally and directly mentioned President Lee’s impeachment.

He stated, "His very existence is a disaster for the Republic of Korea. Right now, the National Assembly is filled with the anger of citizens. It is all because of one person-Lee Jaemyung, who is ruining the country." He added, "Let’s fight until the day Lee Jaemyung is impeached," sharpening his rhetoric.

At the Supreme Council meeting on the 13th, Jang referred to President Lee as "Hitler." Jang said, "Watching the ruthless actions of the three special prosecutors and the decision to drop the appeal in the Daejangdong case, I am reminded of Hitler’s ghost. Hitler created a selective judicial system that covered up cases involving his own side and expanded indictments against his opponents."

There are also voices within the party calling for caution. On the 12th, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Yongtae said on YTN Radio’s "Kim Youngsoo’s The Interview," "I agree that dropping the appeal is an urgent and serious matter," but added, "Carelessly mentioning impeachment is not good for the national interest."