Trial proceedings for the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol have begun in the nation's constitutional court.
The conservative Yoon was impeached on Saturday by leftists leading the opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).
The DPK-dominated National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon after he declared martial law.
The constitutional court has six months to decide whether to remove Yoon or reinstate him.
While it awaits the court's decision on Yoon's fate, the DPK is wasting no time in attempting to destroy anyone in the president's People Power Party (PPP) who might be seen as a successor, analysts say.
During a party meeting on Dec. 16, the DPK specifically named Seoul Mayor Oh Se-Hoon, Gangwon Province Gov. Kim Jin-Tae, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-Bok, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-Pyo, and North Gyeongsang Province Gov. Lee Cheol-Woo. The DKP questioned whether these local government leaders had supported martial law, citing reports that they held emergency response meetings and shut down their offices on the night martial law was declared. The DPK argued that such actions suggest the local leaders bear some responsibility for the situation.
The Chosun Ilbo noted in a Dec. 17 editorial: "Asserting that emergency response meetings held during martial law indicate complicity is a flawed argument. In times of crisis, failing to convene such meetings could be deemed a dereliction of duty. The DPK is undoubtedly aware of this, yet it has chosen to single out these officials, all affiliated with the ruling People Power Party (PPP). This appears to be a calculated effort to damage the reputations of potential PPP presidential candidates in anticipation of a possible early presidential election. This tactic aligns with the broader strategy of leveraging the martial law incident to bolster DPK leader Lee Jae-Myung’s presidential ambitions. Similar maneuvers to enhance Lee’s prospects are likely to continue."
Related: Minutes after South Korea’s Yoon imposed martial law, troops raided National Election Commission, December 7, 2024
Lee, who had been indicted and faced culpability for serious alleged crimes, has taken to leading DPK actions to impeach and arrest prosecutors, officials and Martial Law troops who conducted the raid of the National Election Commission, analysts, including East Asia Research Center director Tara O, noted.
The Chosun Ilbo added: "DPK lawmakers intensified threats to impeach Acting President Han Duck-Soo. They warned that Han could face impeachment if he vetoes DPK-backed legislation or uses his authority to make unilateral appointments. The message is clear: the DPK seeks to diminish the acting president’s independence and render him effectively subservient to its agenda."
The Kookmin Ilbo (KMIB) stated in an editorial: "The Democratic Party has pushed for the impeachment of nearly 20 high-ranking public officials since the current government took office. However, the impeachment requirements are so lax that the Constitutional Court has repeatedly rejected them. This is why some are pointing out that the purpose is to obstruct the work of public officials who are disliked by the giant opposition party. It should not be rationalized, but there is an aspect that President Yoon’s reckless declaration of martial law has become a pretext for the tyranny and recklessness of the opposition party. Even after the martial law, the successive impeachments and the monopolization of economic agendas are seen as political strategies aimed at an early presidential election. The Democratic Party has a responsibility to actively pursue stabilization and normalization of state affairs. The trust of the people will be earned through responsibility rather than bragging about power."
The Democratic Party of Korea is signaling that, if it takes power, it will launch a nationwide purge of political opponents: https://t.co/j0L79NAZbC. This looks like a broad attack on #SouthKorea’s democracy.
— Gordon G. Chang (@GordonGChang) December 17, 2024
The DPK's actions are also aimed at keeping anyone who may be in position to do so from revealing election irregularities, Tara O noted.
Police loyal to Democratic Party arrested Maj Gen Moon Sang-ho & Rho Sang-won, current/former commanders, Korea Defense Intelligence Cmd (KDIC). They hate that KDIC searched corrupt Natl Election Commission. They don't want #electionfraud truth revealed.https://t.co/tljbB95CsU
— Tara O (@DrTaraO) December 16, 2024
Meanwhile, millions of South Koreans have rallied in support of Yoon, which major media are mostly ignoring or suppressing, or, in some instances inventing their own narrative.
Koreans who opposed impeachment & want to save Korea from socialism sent flower stands to the president that lined the street for a mile, but someone didn't like it & set them on fire.
Which is the violent side? https://t.co/gNSVm8b3Jq — Tara O (@DrTaraO) December 15, 2024
A drone video of the massive rally in Gwanghwamun, Seoul opposing impeachment, demanding jailing corrupt, pro-China, pro-North Korea Lee Jae-myung. 2024-12-14. Not shown in the MSM.https://t.co/mcqOxaESFz
— Tara O (@DrTaraO) December 17, 2024
Fallacies. Don't you know it was the Democratic Party PR woman who grabbed the barrel of the rifle (no ammo) and pulled it toward her repeatedly? The media got there before the troops and took a photo, creating a false image. R u the one Moon govt has paid? https://t.co/iBQtX6uVVr
— Tara O (@DrTaraO) December 15, 2024
Also being downplayed by major media are the charges against the DPK's Lee.
Lee Jae-myung, who was indicted as an accomplice for sending $millions to #NorthKorea (illegal), filed to dismiss the case on 2024-12-13.
That's 1 of many criminal charges against him.https://t.co/4bkDcwRhfH — Tara O (@DrTaraO) December 17, 2024
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