“I am a member of the prosecution, but there is no room for intervention”
People’s Power Ho-young Joo (left) and Judiciary Chairman Kim Do-eup are talking at the main conference hall of the National Assembly on the 8th. Senior Reporter Minkyu Park
Kim Do-eup, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly, submitted to the Constitutional Court a resolution to impeach Lee Sang-min, Minister of Public Administration and Security, which was decided at the plenary session of the National Assembly the day before on the 9th.
Jeong Seong-hee, senior expert on the Judiciary and Judiciary Committee, who was delegated by Chairman Kim, submitted a resolution to the Constitutional Court at 10:00 am on the same day. The motion for impeachment of Minister Lee was passed at a plenary session of the National Assembly the day before with 179 out of 293 lawmakers present in favor. It seems that most of the opposition parties, including the Democratic Party with 169 seats, the Justice Party, and the Basic Income Party, were in favor.
Opposition parties such as the Democratic Party question whether Chairman Kim, a member of the People’s Power, will actively participate in the constitutional court’s impeachment adjudication process. As a member of the impeachment prosecution committee, Chairman Kim takes on the role of prosecutor in the impeachment trial.
Chairman Kim met with reporters at the National Assembly that day and said, “The Democratic Party did not push forward the impeachment prosecution without knowing that Kim Do-eup, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, was becoming a member of the prosecution committee,” and said, “It is a legally given position.” Chairman Kim said, “There is something that the Democratic Party made as a reference material and passed it over, and if a hearing is held, Minister Lee will respond.” There is no room for me to intervene,” he said. Chairman Kim said, “That’s why it’s just political rhetoric to say ‘the prosecution will do well or not’.”
When asked if he believed there was a reason for Lee’s impeachment, Chairman Kim said, “The content of the impeachment resolution is what the Democratic Party has always insisted on.” said. Chairman Kim said, “The people will judge whether the content of the impeachment resolution is concrete and substantial enough to result in serious violations of the law that would warrant the impeachment of a member of the State Council.”
Chairman Kim said that the swift submission of the resolution to the Constitutional Court was intended to minimize the vacuum in state affairs. Chairman Kim said, “Now the president has no choice but to leave the post of Minister of Public Administration and Security vacant.” We need to minimize gaps,” he said. Chairman Kim said, “I hope that the constitutional court will proceed with the judgment process quickly.” Regarding the composition of the attorney group, Chairman Kim said, “According to the usual example, the first hearing date will be designated and notified to me,” and “I have time, so I will think about it.”