Jeong Cheong-rae "Yoon Impeachment Hearing is Legal... It Can Be Resolved by Holding a Counter Hearing"

"Let's balance witnesses and reference witnesses equally"
Impeachment hearing for 4 prosecutors also "will be held soon"

Jeong Cheong-rae, the chairman of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee and a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized the legality of the hearing on the impeachment request against President Yoon Seok-yeol, stating, "Since the petition opposing impeachment has also exceeded 50,000 signatures, a hearing on the opposition petition should be held fairly."

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 12th, Chairman Jeong said, "The hearing on the impeachment request petition against President Yoon is legal," adding, "There has been no violation of the National Assembly Act." He continued, "The People Power Party said they plan to file a constitutional dispute trial with the Constitutional Court, so they should carry it out immediately," but also said, "However, I hope they will accept the Constitutional Court's ruling." Furthermore, he added, "It is unlikely that the People Power Party's claims will prevail, and after the ruling, even politically motivated unreasonable claims will not be allowed."

Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th (second from the left). Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee will hold two hearings on the impeachment request petition against President Yoon on the 19th and 26th. Thirty-nine witnesses, including Kim Geon-hee, the wife of President Yoon, have been selected for the hearings.

Chairman Jeong argued that the hearing is lawful based on the National Assembly Act. He said, "The People Power Party seems to be claiming that this hearing is unconstitutional by citing constitutional provisions, which is laughable," adding, "This hearing is conducted according to provisions such as Chapter 9 of the National Assembly Act." He further mentioned, "The National Assembly Act states that hearings can be held by committee resolution for the review of important agenda items," and "An impeachment petition is a matter of national importance and cannot be anything but a very important agenda for the National Assembly." Article 65 of the National Assembly Act stipulates, "The committee may hold hearings by committee resolution when necessary for the review of important agenda items, national audits, and national investigations."

Regarding the 'petition opposing President Yoon's impeachment' which has surpassed 50,000 signatures, Chairman Jeong said, "Since the hearing supporting impeachment will be held according to the National Assembly Act, we will also push for two hearings on the opposition in August," adding, "Isn't this good news for the People Power Party?" He further stated, "I believe the People Power Party will not oppose fairly listening to both the supporting and opposing voices."

Chairman Jeong also emphasized that a hearing will be held for the impeachment of four prosecutors, which was promoted as a party stance by the Democratic Party on the 2nd. He said, "The prosecutor impeachment hearing, which was temporarily postponed due to physical impossibility, will be scheduled and conducted soon," adding, "It will be done lawfully and legitimately." Chairman Jeong insisted that the impeachment investigation hearing is also lawful as it is an 'important agenda item.'

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