Kim Jong-hyuk "Reconsideration of Yoon's impeachment bill by the National Assembly? Practically impossible"

by Kim Jinsun

Published 06 Jan.2025 10:08(KST)

"Judgment Should Proceed on Whether to Re-deliberate by a Third Institution"

The National Assembly impeachment prosecution team, composed of opposition lawmakers, is calling for the impeachment bill to be reconsidered in the National Assembly after withdrawing the charge of treason against President Yoon Seok-yeol. Former People Power Party Supreme Council member Kim Jong-hyuk pointed out that "(realistically) reconsideration of the impeachment bill is impossible."

On the 6th, former Supreme Council member Kim stated on KBS Radio's 'Jeonggyeok Sisa' that "martial law is clearly a mistake and it is right to bear legal responsibility, but I think the Democratic Party and the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Gong-su-cheo) are showing impatience."

Kim Jong-hyuk, Emergency Response Committee member of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The Constitutional Court, Gong-su-cheo, and the Joint Investigation Headquarters (Gong-jo-bon) are conducting the impeachment trial of President Yoon and the treason investigation. Former Council member Kim noted that since multiple agencies are simultaneously conducting trials and investigations on one person, conflicts between agencies could occur. This could be a cause of trial delays. He added, "In the case of former President Park Geun-hye, the investigation was conducted after the impeachment trial ended, so there was no significant conflict between agencies." He further said, "From President Yoon's side, there could be a demand to suspend the investigation while undergoing the Constitutional Court's trial."

The Democratic Party's position regarding the withdrawal of the treason charge is that it is a procedural step to focus on constitutional violations rather than criminal law violations. They also claim that there is no problem with this procedure at all. On the other hand, the People Power Party counters that this decision is a trick to hasten President Yoon's impeachment and defend Representative Lee Jae-myung's judicial risks. They argue that if 'treason' is removed from the impeachment prosecution document, the impeachment bill must be re-approved in the National Assembly.

Former Council member Kim also supported the People Power Party's position. He said, "Seeking the Constitutional Court's judgment only on matters related to martial law is a calculation that the Constitutional Court's trial schedule will be expedited." However, he viewed that reconsidering President Yoon's trial in the National Assembly is impossible because the overwhelming majority are opposition members. Furthermore, since opinions are divided within the People Power Party regarding martial law and impeachment, he said a third institution should make a ruling on whether reconsideration is possible.

Former Council member Kim said, "Ultimately, the Constitutional Court must make a ruling on President Yoon, but it is a situation where the legitimacy of the trial cannot be judged while the trial is ongoing," adding, "very confusing things are happening."