Democratic Party Plunges Forward With Motion to Impeach

In response to President’s Roh Moo Hyun’s refusal of the Democratic Party’s request made on March 7 that he apologize for violating election laws, starting on March 8, the Democratic Party has begun full force efforts to gather the support of both Democratic and the Grand National Party congressional representatives to make a motion for impeachment. The administration is calling this move by the opposition parties a “hugely arrogant act” and is planning a full-on counterattack.

Today, the Democratic Party opened a session of the Standing Central Congressional Committee in which they decided to go forth with a draft proposal drawn up by experts to indict President Roh. Constitutional scholars, among others participated in the session.

The following rank as reasons for indictments in the proposal: 1) President Roh has so frequently violated election laws and the Constitution that he has violated the integrity of our National Laws; 2) Through their corrupt use of power and authority, President Roh, his advisors and staff have undermined the legal and moral basis upon which our National Laws are enforced; 3) With their “Election or Bust” mentality and strategy during the presidential elections, the Roh administration has ruined the Korean economy even in the midst of a worldwide economic boom.

Consequently, on the sixth, the administration held a meeting of the Chief Administration Staff with the presidential secretary Kim Woo-suk presiding. Secretary Kim stated, “This collaboration on the part of the Democratic and the Grand National parties to indict the president is an attempt to use the nation, the people and the Constitution to win the general election at all costs. We will not surrender to such improper political pressure and arrogance.” During the meeting, the Administration made plans to respond in full force.

In addition, the administration made preparations to deal with the President’s inability to continue his regular duties in the event the impeachment is passed. These included the following: 1) The limitation of the scope of presidential duties, including foreign relations and national defense; 2) Having the Prime Minister take over presidential duties; 3) Investigating the legality of whether it is possible to stop the functioning of various administration offices including the presidential staff.

In the meantime, in order to lobby their respective Party congressional representatives and guarantee the requisite number of votes needed to make a motion for impeachment (a majority of representatives on roll) and to pass the motion (two thirds of representatives on roll) the Democratic and the Grand National Parties have decided to actively seek a proposal to postpone to the 15th the first meeting of an ad hoc committee that the administration and the opposition parties had originally and preliminarily scheduled to be held between the eighth and the tenth.

During a press conference held on the seventh, the Grand National Party head Hong Sa-duk said, “President Roh must promise that he will not engage in any more illegal activities and that he will change the way he governs the country.” Furthermore, he warned, “If, however, President Roh’s attitude is “So what if I broke the law?” then we will have no choice but to go forward with impeachment.”

Sung-Won Park Jung-Hun Kim swpark@donga.com jnghn@donga.com