Rebuilding Korea Party: "Impeach Jo Heedae"... Democratic Party: "Parliamentary Investigation First"

Closed-door meeting between the two parties' floor leaders
Rebuilding Korea Party presses, hands over impeachment motion
Democratic Party begins discussions while maintaining cautious stance

The Rebuilding Korea Party has been urging the Democratic Party of Korea to pass a motion to impeach Chief Justice Cho Heedae and pressing for joint action. The Democratic Party, which had maintained a cautious stance, has decided to begin discussions focused on a parliamentary investigation after the parliamentary audit.

Kim Junhyeong, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, is heading to meet Han Byeongdo, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 21st, carrying an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Cho Heedae. Photo by Yoon Dongju.

Kim Junhyeong, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, spoke to reporters after a private meeting with Han Byeongdo, floor leader of the Democratic Party, at the National Assembly on the morning of October 21. "I handed him the impeachment motion and strongly urged him to take action. (Han) said he would discuss it thoroughly within the party," Kim said. "He said he recognized the gravity of the matter."

Kim added, "We had originally planned to make opening remarks and disclose part of the meeting, but the Democratic Party still seems somewhat uncomfortable with that. (Han) came out during a Supreme Council meeting, and because of time constraints as well as the concerns I mentioned earlier, we could not speak at length."

The meeting took place as the Rebuilding Korea Party was pressing the Democratic Party to join the impeachment discussions. Shin Jang-sik, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, held a press conference the previous day and proposed forming a joint task force of democratic and progressive parties to pursue impeachment, as well as holding a joint general meeting of lawmakers from five parties.

"I told him it would be good to have a position settled before Kim Keonhee's detention expires, and (Han) said he understood," Kim said.

The Democratic Party had maintained a cautious stance, but amid growing calls for impeachment, it recently decided to begin related discussions. Cho Gye-won, a Democratic Party spokesperson, told reporters after the party's Supreme Council meeting that day, "Regarding the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho, we are considering a parliamentary investigation as part of the process of verifying specific grounds after the parliamentary audit." Cho added, "We need time to share the rationale for impeachment and the supporting evidence."

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