Impeachment Followed by 'Ssangteukgeom'... Hong Ik-pyo "To Handle Within December Regular National Assembly"

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The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to re-pursue the impeachment of Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman Lee Dong-gwan and two prosecutors, and plans to also handle the so-called 'double special investigation' bills?including the 'Daejang-dong 5 billion Club' and 'Kim Gun-hee's alleged stock manipulation of Deutsche Motors'?within the December regular session of the National Assembly. This is interpreted as an intention to reignite the call for regime judgment five months ahead of next year's general election.

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 14th, Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, appeared on the YouTube channel 'Jang Yoon-seon's Reporting Convenience Store' and stated, "Although I will not specify a date, we will handle the double special investigation bills before the last plenary session in December." Hong added, "The D-day will be determined by considering various circumstances," and said, "Since there are schedules for impeachment and the budget bill, the timing for handling the double special investigation bills will take these into account."

The double special investigation bills were designated as fast-track bills led by the opposition party in April. They were submitted to the plenary session on November 24, and if not scheduled by December 22?the 60th day?they will be automatically scheduled for the first plenary session thereafter. However, Hong Ik-pyo intends to handle the bills within the regular session by December 10, without waiting for automatic scheduling. He also appeared on YTN Radio the previous day and said, "The bills must be handled at the plenary session on December 22, but I believe we should not wait until then and should handle them during the regular session. I have also conveyed this to the Speaker of the National Assembly."

Choi Hye-young, the party's floor spokesperson, said in a briefing at the National Assembly that day, "President Yoon Seok-yeol and the People Power Party should respond to the demand for a special investigation into Kim Gun-hee." She added, "Polls show that over 60% of the public, including those in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, support the 'Kim Gun-hee special investigation bill.' Nevertheless, the presidential office remains silent on this public mandate, and the People Power Party insists it is a 'scheme to politically damage the president,' which is unreasonable." She questioned, "Is the prosecution fair if it does not even summon the president's wife for questioning?" and emphasized, "The Democratic Party will ensure the Kim Gun-hee special investigation bill passes within the regular session to prove that all are equal before the law and to restore fairness and common sense that President Yoon has abandoned."

In addition, the Democratic Party plans to resubmit the impeachment motions against Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman Lee Dong-gwan and Deputy Prosecutors Son Jun-sung and Lee Jung-seop to the plenary session on the 30th and aims to process them on December 1.

Hong Ik-pyo stressed, "We will reintroduce the impeachment motions and ensure they are processed at the National Assembly on December 1." Since the Democratic Party holds a majority of seats, there is a high possibility that both the impeachment motions and the double special investigation bills will pass if voted on in the plenary session. The impeachment motions require a majority of all members present, while the double special investigation bills require a majority of members present and a majority of those voting.

Regarding concerns that the Broadcasting and Communications Commission could become a 'plant commission' until after next year's general election, Hong Ik-pyo criticized, "President Yoon Seok-yeol is the cause. He has not appointed nominee Choi Min-hee, who has no legal issues, for seven months and has unilaterally handled matters with only the two people he wants."

On the same day, Hong Ik-pyo commented on Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, saying, "He seems to have already become a future power," and predicted, "The moment Minister Han runs in next year's general election, President Yoon will immediately face a lame-duck period."

He explained, "If the ruling party loses in the general election, there will naturally be great turmoil. The next presidential election will become an issue, and the ruling party will say they cannot go along with President Yoon. From then on, even the prosecution will start to be cautious." He continued, "Conversely, if the ruling party wins, they secretly want to run the election with Minister Han Dong-hoon as their figurehead. If the election is fought in the second year of the administration with the next power, the future power, as the figurehead instead of the president, then the moment the election ends, the president will become meaningless. From that point, the real leader of South Korea will not be President Yoon Seok-yeol but Representative Han Dong-hoon."

Hong Ik-pyo said, "It is more miserable for the president to be abandoned by his own party than to be surrounded by the opposition," and added, "Many lawmakers within the ruling party are already saying, 'We cannot run the election under Yoon Seok-yeol's name,' and are putting forward Han Dong-hoon. In other words, they have already erased President Yoon from their hearts."

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