Democratic Party Awaits People's Power Party's Participation in 'Yoon Impeachment Bill' Vote... Deadline 'Midnight'

Participation of People Power Party's Ahn Cheol-soo and Kim Ye-ji

Kim Sang-wook Re-enters to Vote

The impeachment bill against President Yoon Suk-yeol, proposed by the Democratic Party and five other opposition parties, was temporarily halted in the National Assembly's plenary session on the 7th. This pause was to wait for the participation of People Power Party members who had exited before the bill was tabled.

The National Assembly held a plenary session on this day to vote on the impeachment bill against President Yoon. People Power Party members participated in the re-vote of the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act' before the impeachment bill and then exited en masse. Only Representatives Kim Ye-ji and Ahn Cheol-soo remained to vote.

As a result, the impeachment bill against President Yoon faced the risk of being discarded due to 'non-establishment of vote.' According to the National Assembly Act, if the number of participants in the vote does not meet the quorum of 200, the impeachment bill is automatically discarded.

Democratic Party members paused the vote to encourage participation from People Power Party members. About 50 Democratic Party members are waiting in the plenary hall without voting. The impeachment bill against President Yoon passed at 12:48 a.m. on the 5th. According to the National Assembly Act, which requires processing 'within 72 hours after 24 hours,' the deadline for handling the impeachment bill is 12:48 a.m. on the 8th.

Democratic Party spokesperson Park Sung-joon met with reporters during the plenary session and stated, "The Democratic Party will soon politely request People Power Party members to vote on the issue of impeaching the leader of an insurrection as members of the National Assembly," adding, "We plan to visit the People Power Party shortly."

He further warned, "Preventing People Power Party members from attending by controlling their votes is a violation of the election law," and added, "We will hold the leadership of the People Power Party strictly accountable."

Democratic Party member Kim Yong-min also appealed, "There may be members hesitating whether to vote now," urging them to "return." He addressed the 18 People Power Party members who participated in the resolution to lift martial law on the 4th, saying, "When the martial law forces entered the National Assembly with guns during the martial law insurrection, the 18 People Power Party members who entered to lift martial law despite feeling a threat to their lives should recall that mindset."

Subsequently, People Power Party member Kim Sang-wook, classified as a close ally, returned to the National Assembly plenary hall to participate in the impeachment bill vote. Democratic Party members applauded and cheered as he entered the hall.

Reporters: Lee Seul-gi, Hong Min-seong, Shin Hyun-bo