Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader of the People’s Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party’s move to impeach the prosecutors investigating Lee Jae-myung, stating that turning South Korea into a “paradise for criminals without prosecution” would ultimately harm ordinary citizens and the vulnerable. During a meeting at the National Assembly, Choo accused the Democratic Party of intending to paralyze the prosecution to hinder the second trial of Lee Jae-myung and various investigations involving the party.
Choo emphasized that impeachment should only occur in exceptional cases of serious constitutional or legal violations by high-ranking officials, describing the Democratic Party’s impeachment efforts as bordering on madness. He questioned who would apprehend criminals if the prosecutors were dismantled.
The Democratic Party had previously processed a motion to impeach the prosecutors involved in investigating corruption cases linked to Lee Jae-myung. They plan to hold an impeachment hearing on December 11. Additionally, the party aims to exclude the ruling party’s nomination rights in pushing for a special investigation against Kim Geon-hee, the First Lady. A vote on Shin Young-dae, a Democratic Party member charged with bribery, is also scheduled.
Choo warned that if the Democratic Party proceeds with the special investigation proposal and blocks the arrest consent for Shin Young-dae, it would reduce the National Assembly to a tool for retaliation and protection. He insisted that the Democratic Party should follow through with Lee Jae-myung’s campaign pledge to waive immunity from arrest.
Choo also urged the opposition to shift focus from repeated special investigations and judicial armor to addressing livelihood issues. He highlighted the recent rise in the birthrate for the first time in years and stressed the need for a governmental control tower to tackle population issues, calling for the establishment of a Ministry of Population Strategy, a proposal pending for about 140 days. Choo asked for cooperation from the opposition to pass the bill to establish the new ministry, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the population crisis.