Democrats Submit 'Lee Dong-gwan Impeachment Motion'... "Must Be Resolved in Plenary Session on the 30th"

Democratic Party Submits Impeachment Proposal Against Chairman Lee Dong-gwan and Two Prosecutors
Park Jumin: "Plenary Session on the 30th... Impeachment Will Definitely Proceed"
Ruling Party: "Political Motive... Budget Agreement Needed to Convene Plenary Session"

The Democratic Party of Korea has resumed the impeachment proceedings against Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman Lee Dong-gwan and prosecutors Son Joon-sung and Lee Jung-seop. Amid opposition from the ruling party, they are determined to pass the impeachment bill at the plenary session scheduled for the 30th.

Park Joo-min, the senior deputy floor leader, and Lim Oh-kyung, the floor spokesperson, submitted the impeachment motion against Chairman Lee Dong-gwan and prosecutors Son Joon-sung and Lee Jung-seop to the National Assembly Secretariat on the afternoon of the 28th. After submitting the impeachment motion, Senior Deputy Leader Park told reporters, "We plan to push for the impeachment of Chairman Lee Dong-gwan and the two prosecutors during the plenary sessions scheduled for two days starting on the 30th," adding, "The impeachment will definitely proceed, and we are submitting the motion in advance to express our determination."

Park Jumin (right), Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Im Okyung, Floor Spokesperson, submitted an impeachment proposal against Lee Dong-gwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, Lee Jeong-seop, Second Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, and Son Junsung, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office, at the National Assembly's Legislative Affairs Office on the 28th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

Senior Deputy Leader Park responded to the ruling party's mention of a 'one-person emergency system at the Broadcasting and Communications Commission' by saying, "There should be many commissioners, and we also think it is undesirable for the operation of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission to stop due to the impeachment of Chairman Lee Dong-gwan," adding, "If necessary, we will promptly recommend successors to ensure that the operation of the commission is not significantly disrupted." He added, "We are considering follow-up measures."

Earlier, Park Sung-joong, the ruling party floor leader on the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee and a member of the People Power Party, stated at a floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "If Chairman Lee Dong-gwan is suspended from duty due to the impeachment, broadcasting could be paralyzed or halted due to unauthorized broadcasts, and the public's right to view cannot be guaranteed," and argued, "It is inevitable to introduce an emergency one-person system, but the operation of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission must never stop."

The Democratic Party has accused the government of attempting to 'seize control of broadcasting' led by Chairman Lee Dong-gwan and has even warned of legal action. Hong Ik-pyo, the Democratic Party floor leader, said at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "Since Chairman Lee Dong-gwan's appointment, the government has been rapidly pushing for the privatization of some news channels," adding, "We will take legal action against Broadcasting and Communications Commission officials and screening committee members who cooperate, on charges such as abuse of power and breach of trust."

Senior Deputy Leader Park cautioned against overinterpretation of the remarks about 'legal action,' saying, "So far, it is not that legal action is being pursued, but rather a statement that such action might be possible or could be considered."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party plans to process these impeachment motions at the plenary sessions scheduled for two days starting on the 30th. The People Power Party is resisting, saying that the plenary session cannot be held unless there is an 'agreement on the budget bill,' but the Democratic Party maintains that National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo has promised to convene the plenary session on 'November 30 to December 1.' At the plenary session held on the 9th, the People Power Party abruptly withdrew a filibuster on the Yellow Envelope Act to block the impeachment motion.

However, if Speaker Kim Jin-pyo makes a decision to hold the next plenary session, the ruling party will have virtually no means to block it.

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