DP launches all-out push on Yoon with special prosecutor and impeachment bills

South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party (DP) launched a full-scale offensive Thursday, calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The DP submitted a proposal for a special investigation into President Yoon’s alleged treasonous acts, with plans to hold a vote on his impeachment and a special prosecutor bill targeting First Lady Kim Keon Hee during a plenary session Saturday. The party aims to address the proposed special investigation on Yoon’s purported treason in another session next Tuesday.

The timing of the impeachment vote, a matter of internal debate within the DP, has been finalized at 7 p.m. on Saturday following a planned mass rally earlier that day. The DP hopes to maximize public pressure on lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to support the impeachment motion. The vote on the special prosecutor bill, initially scheduled for Tuesday, has also been moved up to Saturday. Impeaching a sitting president requires a two-thirds majority of the enrolled members of the National Assembly, while the prosecutor bill requires the approval of two-thirds of lawmakers present, with at least half of the total members in attendance. If the PPP boycotts Saturday’s session, the DP, which holds a parliamentary majority, could still pass the special prosecutor bill with its own votes.

On Wednesday, the PPP officially adopted a party line opposing impeachment, but dissenting voices emerged Thursday, with a group of five junior and first-term lawmakers suggesting President Yoon should consider shortening his term. At a press conference, Reps. Kim Jae-seop, Kim Sang-wook, Kim So-hee, Kim Ye-ji, and Woo Jae-joon argued that “to prevent national paralysis and division, a shortened presidential term is necessary.” They added that they would make a comprehensive decision regarding the impeachment vote. Speculation has arisen that these lawmakers could support impeachment if President Yoon refuses to have his term reduced.

PPP Chairman Han Dong-hoon criticized President Yoon during a party leadership meeting Thursday morning, referencing a recent meeting with the president. “The president’s understanding of this crisis is vastly out of touch with public sentiment,” Lee said. “Those responsible for unsettling the nation and violating constitutional order must be held strictly accountable, along with the president.”


윤다빈 empty@donga.com