野 "I will propose a way to stop Han Dong-hoon's enforcement decree rule"... 'Impeachment debate' reignited

Calls Within the Party to Push for Impeachment
Floor Leader: "Rule by Executive Order Is Unconstitutional and Illegal"

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The opposition party is intensifying its offensive against Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon. They are raising concerns over the Ministry of Justice's plan to revise enforcement ordinances to establish the Personnel Information Management Unit, the Police Bureau, and to expand the prosecution's investigative authority. Amid this, some within the party are reigniting calls for Minister Han's impeachment.

On the 22nd, after the policy coordination meeting, Floor Spokesperson Oh Young-hwan said in a back briefing, "To normalize legislative functions, we will definitely present a way to block the government's enforcement ordinance rule according to its own preferences by any means necessary," but added, "Various methods and opinions are being proposed in the process of finding that way, and no exact method or direction has been decided yet."

The Democratic Party is amplifying criticism of Minister Han by arguing that the revision of the enforcement ordinance itself is illegal. Spokesperson Oh stated, "Our party's issue is not with the minister personally but with the legislative intent that is being nullified through enforcement ordinances under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. We clearly believe that the attempt to govern everything according to the government's preferences through enforcement ordinances is unconstitutional and illegal."

He continued, "The enforcement ordinance establishing the Police Bureau, which denies the legislative intent of the Police Act that abolished the Security Headquarters under the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the current ruling party's clear agreement to reduce the scope of investigation by separating prosecution and investigation, are all being contradicted by the enforcement ordinance that restores and expands the scope of investigation. This act is unconstitutional and illegal," he explained.

Democratic Party lawmakers have also delivered strong remarks toward Minister Han during recent interpellations. On the 20th, Floor Deputy Leader Jin Sung-jun said, "Watching Minister Han's responses, I thought his misguided self-confidence is truly beyond remedy," and directly criticized, "Minister Han's misguided self-confidence that tramples on the rule of law and despises the separation of powers will definitely be held accountable."

Prosecutor-turned-lawmaker Kim Hoe-jae also engaged in a heated exchange with Minister Han over enforcement ordinance governance during the interpellation on the 19th. Kim asked Minister Han, "(If the enforcement ordinance becomes subject to litigation) will you resign if it is wrong?" and added, "If you are at fault, you should take responsibility and resign. Why don't you say that you will resign?"

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is holding a briefing on the ruling of the Lone Star international investment dispute (ISDS) case at the Ministry of Justice building in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi Province on the 31st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

According to the floor, some lawmakers within the party have voiced the need to push for Minister Han's impeachment again. Regarding this situation, a floor official said, "Talk of impeachment has been around for a long time, but the leadership has not yet specifically reviewed impeachment," and explained, "Since motions for dismissal and impeachment are highly political acts, the stance has been to judge carefully."

He added, "All three measures?amending the law, submitting a motion for dismissal, and impeachment?are open options."

However, concerns have been raised that pushing for impeachment is premature. A lawmaker within the party said, "Impeachment is more political than legal, so factors such as impeachment requirements, social sensitivity as perceived by the public, and livelihood issues must all be considered. We need to judge whether this is the right timing," he said.

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