How Do You Feel About the 180-Seat 'Geo-yeo' Yoon Seok-yeol Impeachment Proposal? [Han Seung-gon's Political Notebook]

Kim Du-kwan Repeatedly Calls for Yoon Seok-yeol's Impeachment... Some Ruling Party Members Urge Caution

Kim Du-kwan, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] In the ruling party with 180 seats, known as the "geo-yeo" (巨與, supermajority), there is a movement to propose an impeachment motion against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan has been advocating for the impeachment of Prosecutor General Yoon continuously for three days starting from the 25th, the day after the court halted the execution of Yoon's disciplinary action on the 24th.

However, there is also a cautious view within the ruling party. This is due to doubts about whether the Constitutional Court (Constitutional Tribunal) would accept the impeachment motion against Prosecutor General Yoon, especially since the court has suspended the two-month suspension disciplinary action, and concerns about the inevitable political backlash that could occur if such a situation actually arises.

Nevertheless, Lawmaker Kim actively refuted these perspectives, using terms like defeatism and surrender. He stated his intention to definitely prepare an impeachment motion in the National Assembly.

On the afternoon of the 27th, Kim posted on his Facebook page, actively countering the cautious views within his party regarding his call for Prosecutor General Yoon's impeachment. He also explained the reasons why Yoon must be impeached and claimed that it is possible to persuade the Constitutional Court.

Regarding the reasons for impeaching Prosecutor General Yoon, Kim emphasized, "There is absolutely no reason for the Democratic Party to hesitate in impeaching Prosecutor General Yoon, who has infringed upon the nation's greatest legal interests."

On the internal cautious views, he stressed, "Many seem to worry about the backlash. I assert that the backlash argument is defeatism and a surrender to not confront the prosecution." He added, "Delaying decision-making due to political aftershocks is not the attitude of a responsible politician. Betraying the partisan support of the party will be the subject of judgment in the future."

Targeting the People Power Party, he pointed out, "The People Power Party is now loudly demanding that the Prosecutor General's term be guaranteed, but in reality, they are the forces that habitually proposed impeachment motions against the Prosecutor General. Guaranteeing the term is just an excuse; their true intention is to use the prosecution to attack the current government and try to seize power."

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is attending an event held on the afternoon of September 18 at the annex of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding views on methods to impeach Prosecutor General Yoon and reforming the related systems, he stated, "Impeachment and institutional reform are not mutually exclusive. Impeachment is necessary to achieve good institutional reform," and argued, "Removing obstacles to institutional reform is what the impeachment of Prosecutor General Yoon is about."

He further claimed, "The Constitutional Court may dismiss the impeachment, but if a special prosecutor investigation into Prosecutor General Yoon and his family is launched simultaneously, or if the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) begins investigating Yoon's personal criminal acts, it will be possible to persuade the Constitutional Court." He added, "The National Assembly's impeachment motion itself is sufficiently meaningful. The national chaos lost by leaving Prosecutor General Yoon unattended for seven months is far greater than the benefits gained by impeaching him."

Kim continued, "In a situation where all available weapons must be mobilized, some want to cling only to institutional reform that may or may not happen. I hope to no longer hear such complaints from defeatists."

Earlier, on the 25th, the day after the court accepted the suspension of the two-month disciplinary action against Prosecutor General Yoon, Kim stated on Facebook, "I will prepare an impeachment motion in the National Assembly," and argued, "This is nothing less than a judicial coup that suspended the power of the president elected by the people, and all constitutional means available must be fully mobilized."

On the 26th, he said, "It is right to push for impeachment to ensure the president's safety. Protecting the president elected by the people is protecting democracy," and added, "If the Prosecutor General is not impeached, institutional reform will be difficult to gain momentum."

However, there are negative views regarding Kim's claim that "the Constitutional Court can be persuaded." The impeachment requirements demand a serious legal violation warranting dismissal. Given that the court has accepted the suspension of the disciplinary action filed by Yoon against Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, it is pointed out that the possibility of the Constitutional Court accepting the impeachment motion against Yoon is slim.

Kim's assertion that the 'persuasion of the Constitutional Court' is based on allegations of misconduct by Yoon through the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials is also viewed as a kind of presumption about future events that have yet to occur.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.