The Citizen Coalition Victory Transition Action, organized by Rep. Kang Duk-gu of the Democratic Party of Korea, continues to be at the center of controversy for hosting the “Impeachment Night” event at the National Assembly members’ building as part of the ongoing dispute between the ruling and opposition parties. The People Power Party has labeled Rep. Kang’s sponsorship of the event as an act of defiling the national flag and demanded an end to inciting impeachment. In response, the Democratic Party clarified that they have not discussed the impeachment issue at the party level but stated that they do not believe in sanctioning lawmakers’ free expression.
The People Power Party spokesperson, Kim Yeon-ju, criticized the opposition party’s impeachment agitation, pointing out that it has roots dating back to the early stages of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, highlighting the participation of certain lawmakers in anti-government rallies. The spokesperson emphasized the opposition’s persistence in inciting impeachment, culminating in the “Impeachment Night” event at the Assembly on the 27th.
There has been a back-and-forth exchange between parties with the People Power Party urging the Democratic Party to stop using impeachment as a primary means to destabilize the government. Meanwhile, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun expressed concerns about the Democratic Party’s role in turning the National Assembly, a place representing the will of the people, into a platform for impeachment activities.
At the core of the controversy, Rep. Kang held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall, asserting that the Assembly belongs to the people, not the lawmakers, and countered the People Power Party’s threat of his removal as equivalent to a declaration of war against the people. He called on the opposition to listen to why the people are talking about impeachment and realize the essence of lawmakers representing the voice of the people.
Furthermore, Rep. Kang warned the People Power Party to focus on addressing the erosion of constitutional and people’s livelihood issues under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration instead of targeting legitimate events. He also questioned whether the People Power Party lawmakers who led and approved the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye were also violators of the constitutional order.
Rep. Kang emphasized that the People Power Party’s attempt to link the “Impeachment Night” event with Chairman Lee Jae-myung is baseless and accused the party of having a tunnel vision. The Democratic Party’s Secretary-General Kim Yoon-deok clarified in a press conference at the National Assembly on the same day that the party has never discussed the issue of impeachment at the party level and that it is a matter of individual lawmakers’ free expression. He stressed the need for the party to respond actively to prevent any misunderstanding of individual lawmakers’ activities as the party’s official stance.