Democrats on 'Lee Dong-gwan's Resignation' Say "Committed Crime and Fled"

Lee Dong-gwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, Resigns After Impeachment Report
Hong Ik-pyo: "If Yoon Accepts Resignation, It Is an Obstruction of Constitutional Procedure"

The Democratic Party of Korea directly criticized the resignation of Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman Lee Dong-gwan on the 1st, just before the impeachment motion vote in the plenary session, calling it a 'trick.' As President Yoon Seok-yeol increased pressure by stating that he should not accept the resignation, the party reaffirmed its determination to proceed with the impeachment motion as scheduled.

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "(Chairman Lee Dong-gwan's resignation) is a trick to avoid impeachment, and if the president accepts the resignation, it will be a clear act of obstruction against the National Assembly's constitutional procedure." He added, "The president should not accept Chairman Lee Dong-gwan's resignation and should allow the National Assembly to complete the impeachment process."

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 1st. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Go Min-jung, a Supreme Council member, pointed out, "A little while ago, Chairman Lee Dong-gwan made a 'trick' resignation." She said, "It is an intention to avoid impeachment and complete the takeover of broadcasting." She further stated, "Is he committing a crime and then 'eoljuka' (eat and run)?" and "Since the National Assembly has entered the impeachment process, the president should not approve the resignation, and if he does, he will become an accomplice to Chairman Lee Dong-gwan's eoljuka act."

Jang Kyung-tae, another Supreme Council member, also criticized, "The people have already sentenced Chairman Lee Dong-gwan, who is crossing the line between trickery and illegality, to dismissal." He continued, "According to the State Public Officials Act, retirement is not allowed with only minor disciplinary action, and acceptance is withheld." He added, "Now that the impeachment motion has been proposed and disciplinary procedures have effectively begun, Chairman Lee Dong-gwan's trick resignation is also problematic, and if President Yoon approves it, he will be an accomplice to approving the trick."

Meanwhile, it has been understood that Chairman Lee Dong-gwan personally conveyed his intention to voluntarily resign to President Yoon late in the afternoon of the day before the impeachment motion was reported to the plenary session of the National Assembly. However, it is reported that President Yoon has not accepted the resignation so far.

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