[Exclusive] "Recommendation to Dismiss Former Defense Minister Lee Byeong-tae Also Withdrawn"... Lee Dong-gwan Impeachment Motion to Be Reintroduced Next Month

National Assembly Secretariat, Withdrawal of Consent to the National Assembly Act Agenda Only for Submitted Cases
There Is a Precedent of Withdrawal of Dismissal Recommendation in 1994

The People Power Party's sudden withdrawal of the unlimited debate (filibuster) on the Yellow Envelope Act and the Broadcasting 3 Acts has led to the impeachment motion against Lee Dong-gwan, the Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, being expected to be discussed again in this year's regular National Assembly session. It has been confirmed that the National Assembly concluded that withdrawal is possible. Accordingly, the Democratic Party is expected to attempt a vote on the impeachment motion against Chairman Lee again on the 1st of next month.

A National Assembly official explained in a phone interview with this paper on the 10th, "According to Article 90 of the National Assembly Act and its commentary, a motion withdrawn by 'consent of the motion' under Article 90 is a motion that has become an agenda item," adding, "A motion that has become an agenda item refers not to a 'reported motion' in the plenary session but to a motion that has been drafted into the agenda and 'submitted.' The impeachment motion was made known only as a report without the act of submitting it as an agenda item." This means that although it was reported to the plenary session, since there was no submission procedure, withdrawal is possible.

Lee Dong-kwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, is expressing his position regarding the impeachment motion against him at the National Assembly Rotunda Hall on the 9th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

In fact, the official explained that there is a precedent from 1994 regarding the motion to dismiss Defense Minister Lee Byung-tae the next day. Since there is a precedent of withdrawal after reporting to the National Assembly even for dismissal motions that must be voted on within 72 hours after 24 hours of reporting, withdrawal is possible as the Democratic Party claims. Checking the records at the time shows that although the dismissal motion against former Minister Lee was submitted, when news of the death of North Korean leader Kim Il-sung was announced, the Democratic Party, which proposed the dismissal, withdrew it to allow the military to fully prepare for the emergency situation.

The People Power Party argued that according to the principle of non-reconsideration (ilsabujae) under the National Assembly Act, once 72 hours have passed since the impeachment motion was reported to the plenary session (on the 12th), it cannot be reconsidered until the regular session ends on the 9th of next month. Jang Dong-hyuk, the party's floor spokesperson, said on MBC Radio that "In the case of an impeachment motion, it is automatically discarded 72 hours after it is reported, so legal effect arises from the time it is reported," and added, "The 24-hour period is given to allow time to deliberate on the agenda. The impeachment motion should be regarded as a motion that has become an agenda item from the time it is reported." He also stated that if the National Assembly Secretariat accepts the Democratic Party's withdrawal of the impeachment motion, they will "review and respond to legal measures."

On the other hand, the Democratic Party maintains the position that the impeachment motion should be voted on in a plenary session held that day, and if the plenary session is not convened, they plan to withdraw the impeachment motion and then push for it again in the plenary sessions scheduled for the 30th of this month and December 1st. Park Joo-min, the Democratic Party's senior floor leader, said on the same radio program, "It cannot become an agenda item," and "We have confirmed this several times with the Secretariat." This means the Democratic Party believes voluntary withdrawal is possible.

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