DP moves to impeach communications czar, two prosecutors

Politics

Published: 28 Nov. 2023, 19:03 Updated: 28 Nov. 2023, 19:32

DP moves to impeach communications czar, two prosecutors

The Democratic Party (DP) floor spokesperson Lim O-kyeong, left, and deputy floor leader Park Ju-min on Tuesday file impeachment motions against the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) chief Lee Dong-kwan, Son Jun-sung of the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office and Lee Jung-seop of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul. [NEWS1]

The Democratic Party (DP) filed an impeachment motion against the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) chief and two prosecutors for the second time on Tuesday.

One of the prosecutors that the DP is pushing to impeach until recently headed the investigation teams looking into several cases involving DP leader Lee Jae-myung.

The cases include illegal money wiring to North Korea through the underwear company Ssangbangwool, illegal political contributions and illegal use of the local government's credit card for personal use, including purchasing Japanese shampoos and takeout sushi.

Rep. Park Ju-min, a DP deputy floor leader, said Tuesday that his party submitted the impeachment motion against KCC Chief Lee Dong-kwan and two other prosecutors, Son Jun-sung of the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office and Lee Jung-seop of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office.

“We wish the PPP would cooperate and hold the plenary meeting as planned,” Park told the reporters after submitting the motion to the National Assembly's office.

Park said he had filed the motion early to convey that the impeachments were a forgone conclusion.

The motion is expected to be put to a vote later this week.

More than two weeks ago, the party withdrew the impeachment motion on all three after it was nearly tossed out when the regular session on Nov. 9 ended faster than the DP expected.

The DP expected the rival People Power Party (PPP) to extend the regular session by holding a filibuster against several bills, including a pro-labor bill that the Yoon Suk Yeol government opposed.

However, when the PPP decided not to push forward with the filibuster, the regular session ended, which didn't give time for the motion to be put to a vote.

After an impeachment motion is filed in a plenary meeting, it is required by law to be voted on between 24 and 72 hours after it was reported. If the vote does not happen within 72 hours, it is tossed out.

The head of the government's communication commission, Lee Dong-kwan, is the second member of Yoon Suk Yeol's cabinet to face impeachment after the DP pushed through with the impeachment of Interior Minister Lee Sang-min.

The Constitutional Court rejected the motion, allowing Minister Lee to resume his role five months after his impeachment.

The DP also tried to impeach Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, but the general resigned before the motion was filed.

The DP said Lee's impeachment was necessary for his heavy-handed management of the KCC and his alleged history of press censorship.

President Yoon appointed Lee to head the KCC in August.

On Tuesday, the DP also submitted an impeachment motion against prosecutor Son, accusing him of conspiring with PPP Rep. Kim Woong just before the general election of 2020.

The accusation surfaced after an online news outlet revealed that Son, then chief of investigative information policy at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, provided criminal complaints to Kim Woong, a former prosecutor who was running for a seat in the National Assembly for the United Future Party (UFP), ahead of the general elections on April 15, 2020. The UFP is the precursor of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).

Regarding the allegation, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) on Monday demanded a five-year prison term for Son in a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court — three years for violating the election law and two years for violating other laws, including privacy protection laws.

Prosecutor Lee Jung-seop, suspended from his position last Monday, is accused of multiple allegations of impropriety, including looking into criminal records of employees at the golf course run by his brother-in-law at the request of the in-law.

Lee had also been overseeing the investigations into cases involving DP leader Lee Jae-myung, including the accusation that the DP leader illegally wired money to North Korea through Ssangbangwool.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]