Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, made statements accepting the impeachment decision through a media interview, sparking a political clash with the ruling party demanding an official stance from him.
Amid the imminent ruling on President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment trial by the Constitutional Court, the two main political parties are engaged in a war of nerves over “pledging acceptance” of the outcome.
According to political circles on the 18th, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party (PPP), stated on the 17th that the PPP is willing to agree to a resolution in the National Assembly promising to accept the results of the impeachment trial, provided the Democratic Party responds in kind. This was in response to a question about whether the PPP would pursue such a resolution.
Despite Lee Jae-myung having expressed his intention to accept the impeachment ruling during his appearance on Channel A’s YouTube, the PPP is urging an official statement from the Democratic Party.
Kwon Young-se, chairman of the PPP’s emergency task force, accused the Democratic Party of inciting unrest by suggesting civil disorder would follow if the impeachment is dismissed and insisted that the Democratic Party promptly declare their acceptance of the Constitutional Court’s decision.
In response, the Democratic Party stated that accepting the impeachment ruling is expected and demanded that President Yoon also declare his willingness to accept the decision. Yoon Jong-gun, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party, criticized President Yoon, labeling him a “ringleader of rebellion,” and accused him of planning not to accept the impeachment should it be upheld.
The Democratic Party further accused President Yoon and his associates of misjudging their chances by believing they could overturn the impeachment just as they had thwarted an arrest warrant against them by the prosecution.
Democratic Party figures, including former member Park Yong-jin, targeted the PPP’s demands, questioning why President Yoon, who is directly involved in the impeachment case, has not been called upon to declare his acceptance of the result.
Lee Jae-myung also urged the Constitutional Court on his Facebook page for a swift ruling in the impeachment trial to alleviate public unrest and prevent further distress or harm among citizens.