Following the release of a phone call suggesting Democratic Party ‘nomination interference’,
Households Committee holds a press conference in Parliament,
suggesting “The loss of driving force for state affairs…”
“If he does not step down voluntarily, the answer is impeachment”
[Dailyarn = Reporter Kim Eun-ji] Following the Democratic Party’s disclosure of an alleged phone conversation between President Yoon Suk-yeol and political broker Myung Tae-kyun, which is believed to be evidence of Yoon’s involvement in nominations, the Innovation Party has immediately echoed the call for President Yoon to resign.
On the afternoon of the 31st, the Innovation Party held a press conference in the name of ‘Three Years is Too Long Special Committee (Impeachment Promotion Committee)’ urging “President Yoon Suk-yeol’s immediate resignation and Democratic Party’s participation in impeachment efforts,” emphasizing that “(Yoon’s) involvement in nominations was indeed a fact” and demanded, “President Yoon Suk-yeol must resign immediately.”
This action follows the Democratic Party’s emergency press conference held earlier in the morning at the Parliament, where a phone conversation related to the nomination of former lawmaker Kim Young-sun was made public. The Innovation Party asserts, “What more compelling evidence of nomination interference can there be than a recorded voice?”
The Innovation Party cites the loss of momentum to govern the nation as the justification for pressuring resignation. They added that the address scheduled in Parliament on November 4th should not be about the budget proposal but an announcement of voluntary resignation.
Additionally, the Innovation Party stressed, “If President Yoon does not resign voluntarily, impeachment is the only solution.”
According to the recording disclosed during the Democratic Party’s emergency press conference, a person believed to be President Yoon mentioned, “The nomination management committee brought it to me, so I said, ‘Kim Young-sun has worked hard since the primaries, so give it to Kim Young-sun,’ but there are too many words from the party,” to which Myung responded, “I will never forget this lifelong favor. Thank you.”
The telephone conversation revealed by the Democratic Party reportedly occurred on May 9, 2022, the day before the presidential inauguration, just before the by-elections, with Kim Young-sun ultimately nominated and elected as a candidate from the People’s Power Party for Uichang, Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.
On this day, the Innovation Party announced, “On October 26, we already held a historical first party-level declaration at the prosecution office front, calling for President Yoon’s impeachment,” and they plan to open “Impeachment Cafés” across the country, including Daegu and Mokpo, with a rally in front of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office scheduled for November 16 to advocate for impeachment.
Furthermore, they declared, “The impeachment smoking gun has emerged,” and they will release the initial draft of an impeachment proposal specifying detailed reasons for impeachment, working with the public to finalize the proposal.
Lastly, they emphasized, “We believe that the Democratic Party, opposition parties, and all legislators concerned for the country will join the steps taken by the Innovation Party and the people cooperating together.”
Lawmakers Kang Kyung-sook, Kim Sun-min, Shin Jang-sik, Lee Hae-min, Jung Choon-saeng, and Cha Kyu-geun participated in the press conference calling for President Yoon’s resignation.