All Facets of Impeachment Bill Vote

It was the “50 minutes-long drama” which changed the history of Korean politics.

In the confusion of fierce physical contact between the congressmen of the ruling and opposition parties, and in the midst of their screams and shouts, the first unprecedented vote for the presidential impeachment bill in the history of Korea ended at 11:56 a.m. on March 12.

The Historical Spot in a Quagmire–

At 11:06 a.m., National Assembly Speaker Park Kwan-yong entered the general meeting room of the National Assembly Building under escort from the Assembly security and approached the speaker seat via the left staircase, stirring political chaos in the hall.

The designated guards of the speaker’s seat, Uri Party Congressman Ahn Young-kuen and Lim Jong-seok, tried to block Park’s path, screaming, “It’s a congressional coup d’etat!” Congressman Jang Young-dal even threw the gavel away.

In the fierce physical contact to secure the speaker’s seat, the two sides’ congressmen even tumbled over each other. The Assembly guards dragged seven Uri congressmen including Lee Bu-young out of the hall, and they confronted them, fervently shouting, “You idiots!,” and “Are you gangsters?” but could not do anything.

In the turmoil, Park came down from his seat, with an irritated look, but was obstructed by the opposition congressmen. He shouted, “You! Blockhead!,” wrapping everybody up in an exasperated emotional state.

After approximately 14 minutes, Congressman Jang Young-dal was finally dragged out, and Park, who was able to secure his seat on the podium, declared the opening of general assembly meeting and directly proclaimed the secret ballot for the vote of impeachment bill. It was 11:22 a.m.

The opposition congressmen made use of only the left-side polling booth to conduct the vote. Ten Uri Party congressmen, including the head, Jung Dong-young, mounted on their desks and demanded the suspension of vote, shouting, “It’s a massacre!” and “Cease the usurpation!”

As the vote finished amidst the turmoil and GNP congressman Lee Jae-oh drew a circle signal to the speaker indicating the completion, Park declared the conclusion of the vote and the commencement of the ballot counting. At 11:56 a.m., Park officially announced the result of the vote and proclaimed the passage of the impeachment bill. Uri Party congressmen threw their shoes, nameplates, and documents to Park to assume a defiant attitude toward the result, and GNP and MDP congressmen gave a shout of joy to welcome the result.

Exasperated Ruling Party and Entangled Opposition Parties—

The Open Uri Party’s congressmen embraced each other, shed tears, and sung the national anthem toward the television camera. When Congressman Kim Boo-kyum remarked, “I am very sorry to you, Korea. We are the criminals who couldn’t block the passage of impeachment bill. You should protect us,” all of the Uri Party congressmen kneeled down and knocked their foreheads.

After that, these congressmen held their own meeting in the hall, saying, “We will launch into the second resistance of June and confront the opposition parties who tolled the funeral bell of the history of the Korean constitution and democracy,” and consented to declare their abdication of the National Assembly as a whole, submitting their letters of resignation to their floor leader. Congressman Kim Young-chun was agitated, saying, “Today, I will rid myself of this dirty badge of the National Assembly.”

The opposition parties were also in a state of disorder. The head of GNP and MDP held their own meetings and opened the press conference, stating, “It’s a corollary. Though we won, I am not so pleased,” and “We will support the acting president, Goh Kun, to favorably manage the governmental administration,” respectively.

President Roh’s Belated Apology and Speaker Park’s Rebuke—

In advance of the vote, President Roh’s intention of representing his apology to the public was passed on to the opposition parties, but it was much too late to change the minds of the opposition parties. The executives of GNP and MDP reconfirmed their standpoint, refuting “Are you kidding?”

On the other hand, Speaker Park invoked his right of order restoration without any hesitation and blamed the Uri Party congressmen, saying, “It’s a natural consequence!” It is known that Park breathed a deep sigh when he heard of Roh’s intention of apology at around 10 a.m. on this day, saying “People will not understand.”