The Democratic Party of Korea is continuing to deliberate on whether to proceed with the impeachment of Choi Sang-mok, the Acting President and Minister of Economy and Finance, with no consensus reached as opinions within the party remain divided. The leadership has been entrusted with making the final decision. Given the tight timeline before the afternoon plenary session, it’s expected that the party may choose to observe the political situation and coordinate their response into the following week before proposing an impeachment bill.
In a recent general meeting, the Democratic Party discussed this issue but did not reach a conclusion, leaving the final decision to its leadership. Those in favor of impeachment argue that because Acting President Choi has not appointed constitutional court nominee Ma Eun-hyuk, contrary to court decisions, decisive action is required. Some members believe that, with President Yoon’s impeachment trial by the Constitutional Court dragging on, an assertive measure is needed to energize their base and press the court to expedite proceedings.
Political analysts suggest that the “Choi Sang-mok impeachment card” could potentially consolidate support among their base, applying pressure on the Constitutional Court to accelerate its rulings. However, some argue against pursuing impeachment, stating it offers little practical benefit and could provoke a public backlash. Concerns also arise over whether replacing the acting president amidst demanding economic conditions is wise. The Democratic Party must weigh whether to further the impeachment effort amidst other significant developments next week, including the anticipated results of Lee Jae-myung’s appellate trial for election law violations and potential rulings on Prime Minister Han Duk-soo’s impeachment.
The next steps depend on the decisions of the National Assembly Speaker, Woo Won-shik, as well as other evolving political circumstances. The process requires that an impeachment proposal is voted on within a specific timeframe once reported at a plenary session. If the Speaker does not convene a session within the designated window, the proposal might lapse without a vote.