Democratic Party Withdraws Impeachment Motion Against Lee Dong-gwan... Likely to Retry at the End of This Month (Comprehensive)

Impeachment Withdrawal Sparks Ruling Party and Opposition Clash
National Assembly Secretariat States "Withdrawal Possible"

The Democratic Party of Korea has withdrawn the impeachment motions against Lee Dong-gwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, and prosecutors Son Joon-sung and Lee Jeong-seop. As it has become difficult to hold a plenary session and process the impeachment motions, it is expected that they will attempt impeachment again within the regular parliamentary session. For now, the likelihood of pushing for impeachment on the 30th of this month and the 1st of next month has increased.

Park Joo-min, the Democratic Party’s senior deputy floor leader, said at a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office, "We have just withdrawn the impeachment motions," adding, "This does not violate the principle of non bis in idem." He continued, "We will continue to pursue impeachment without wavering." Park also stated, "I think the People Power Party gathering to protect Chairman Lee clearly revealed their strong desire and ambition to control the broadcasting system." Additionally, he said, "There are considerable suspicions regarding Prosecutor Lee, and it is very regrettable that the prosecution appears to be protecting him rather than enhancing trust."

Regarding future responses, he said, "It seems that impeachment will be pursued on the 30th of this month," and "If grounds for impeachment arise, they will be included."

There was debate in the National Assembly over whether the impeachment motions could be withdrawn. Jang Dong-hyuk, the People Power Party’s floor spokesperson, said on MBC Radio that day, "In the case of impeachment motions, they are automatically discarded 72 hours after being reported, so legal effect begins from the time they are reported," and added, "The 24-hour period is given to allow time to deliberate on the agenda. Impeachment motions should be considered as agenda items from the time they are reported." He also stated that if the National Assembly Secretariat accepts the Democratic Party’s withdrawal of the impeachment motions, "we will review and respond with legal measures."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the decision to withdraw the impeachment motions, Senior Deputy Floor Leader Park criticized, "Do not pressure the National Assembly Secretariat," and said, "Attempts to reinterpret this as pressure are inappropriate." He explained, "The principle of non bis in idem means not to re-discuss a matter after it has been deliberated and decided, but withdrawal before discussion does not fall under non bis in idem."

Earlier, a National Assembly official explained in a phone interview on the 10th, "According to Article 90 of the National Assembly Act and its commentary, withdrawal by ‘consent of the bill’ means the bill has become an agenda item," and added, "An agenda item is not a ‘reported bill’ in the plenary session but a bill that has been scheduled and ‘submitted’ as an agenda. (The impeachment motions) were reported but not submitted as agenda items." This means that since the motions were reported to the plenary session but not formally submitted, withdrawal is possible.

The official further explained that there is precedent from 1994 regarding the dismissal motion for Defense Minister Lee Byung-tae. Since there is precedent for withdrawing a dismissal motion after it was reported but before voting within the 72-hour period following the 24-hour waiting period, withdrawal is possible as the Democratic Party claims. Records show 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 had proposed the dismissal, withdrew it to allow the military to prepare for the emergency situation.

On the other hand, the People Power Party opposed this interpretation by the National Assembly. Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized, "The National Assembly Secretariat has colluded to unfairly interpret the National Assembly Act," and said, "The fundamental principle of non bis in idem, which underpins the National Assembly Act, has been violated." Yoon also stated that they are "considering responses" regarding the National Assembly Secretariat.

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