**Anticipation Among Leaders After Prime Minister Han’s Return**
Kwon Seong-dong: “There’s a possibility of dismissal based on personal judgment”
Joo Jin-woo: “The longer the delay, the higher the probability of dismissal/rejection”
Inside the ruling party, there are voices leaning towards the possibility of dismissal or rejection of President Yoon Seok-yeol’s impeachment trial after the return of Acting President and Prime Minister Han Deok-soo. There are claims that the longer the Constitutional Court’s ruling is delayed, the more favorable it could be for President Yoon.
Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, stated on the 25th, after a strategy meeting at the National Assembly, that “based on personal judgment, there is a possibility of dismissal” regarding the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol by the Constitutional Court.
Kwon, reflecting on his past experience as a National Assembly impeachment manager, along with current public opinion and the differences in the Constitutional Court’s structure compared to the time of former President Park Geun-hye, as well as the nature of the case, considered various factors in making this judgment.
Earlier, on the YouTube channel of Channel A-News Parliament’s Anchor appearance, Kwon addressed the possibility of an early presidential election, stating, “As of now, there seems to be a high probability of dismissal of the impeachment.”
He added, “It’s my personal feeling. Considering past experience as an impeachment officer, public opinion polls, and my own information, the likelihood of dismissal is much higher.”
Shin Dong-wook, the chief spokesperson, mentioned on the same morning on YTN Radio’s ‘News Fighting Kim Young-soo’ that “it’s not impossible” for a dismissal, highlighting that it was significant that two judges expressed a dismissal opinion when considering Acting President impeachment.
Shin pointed out that judges Jo Han-chang and Jeong Hyeong-sik, who gave a dismissal opinion in Prime Minister Han’s impeachment, viewed the procedural flaws as severe enough to make it difficult for substantive deliberation.
He further stated, “The Constitutional Court judges feel a significant burden regarding the procedural flaws, so the possibility of dismissal should not be ruled out.”
Additionally, there is a sentiment that the appellate court’s ruling on the Public Official Election Act violation by Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, scheduled for the 26th, could influence President Yoon’s impeachment trial.
Joo Jin-woo, the legal advisory committee chairman, argued on SBS Radio’s ‘Kim Tae-hyun’s Political Show’ that if a ruling of invalidation of election is announced without a scheduled ruling date for the president’s impeachment by that Friday, the public perception that the Democratic Party has abused impeachment will rise, and it will appear as if it is due to Lee’s legal risks.
Joo further explained, “In such a situation, the longer the delay in the president’s impeachment, the higher the possibility of dismissal or rejection.”
He also discussed the rigorous requirement for proof and evidence, suggesting the possibility that the opinions of the Constitutional Court judges might vary regarding whether there is sufficient evidence of the president’s order to arrest. “While dismissal and rejection might conflict, the final order could result in dismissal,” he added.
Na Kyung-won, in a press conference outside the Constitutional Court, cautiously predicted that “we can confirm the presence of justices committed to upholding and elevating the values of the constitution and the law.”
Na urged the Constitutional Court once again “not to further instigate conflicts in South Korea or allow anti-national forces to operate and to make a decision to dismiss/reject the impeachment in order for the president to return to duty.”
Kim Jeong-jae remarked, “The dismissal of Prime Minister Han’s impeachment is a positive sign for the dismissal/rejection of President Yoon’s impeachment,” criticizing the Democratic Party’s aggressive impeachment push.