Yoon Sang-hyun "I Oppose Yoon's Impeachment Today... Cannot Hand Over Power to Lee Jae-myung"

Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, expressed his opposition to the second impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 14th, stating, "I oppose the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol today."

On Facebook, Yoon stated, "I cannot help but feel genuinely sorry to the people and party members for having reached this situation. I sincerely apologize," he said.

Yoon acknowledged the overwhelming public support for impeachment, saying, "I was against the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye eight years ago despite the overwhelming public opinion, but then and now, it's not about protecting the individual president," he explained. "In 2016, what kind of country did we bring about by impeaching President Park to save myself and burning down my house? Didn't the values and foundations of Korea collapse entirely during the five years of the Moon Jae-in administration? In short, politics became dictatorial, the economy collapsed, and diplomacy and security were dismantled," he explained.

He continued, "I am not trying to protect President Yoon as an individual. I oppose the impeachment of President Yoon to protect the system of Korea, its future, and its descendants," emphasizing, "because we cannot hand over power to the ruthless Democratic Party led by Lee Jae-myung."

He further stated, "At this moment, I vividly see the image of the assembly's reckless forces with armbands after the impeachment is passed. How much has the Democratic Party led by Lee Jae-myung disrupted the constitutional order of Korea with various legislative rampages, impeachment rampages, and budget rampages based on their overwhelming majority in the 22nd National Assembly? After the impeachment is passed, how cruelly will they exercise power and destroy the constitutional order, as Lee Jae-myung said?" he questioned.

Yoon argued, "The president's December 3 martial law is a misguided decision that confuses the public," but added, "However, the investigative agencies, media, and Han Dong-hoon are driving the president's December 3 martial law as a rebellion crime due to the Democratic Party's incitement and public opinion manipulation, but we need to carefully examine whether the elements of rebellion under Articles 87 and 91 of the Criminal Code are established."

Yoon explained, "The president insists that the December 3 martial law is not a rebellion crime, while Han Dong-hoon is concluding it as a rebellion crime," adding, "At least, if you are a member of the same party who shared the same table, it is the minimum loyalty to the president to form a task force within the party to discuss the president's claims and proceed with the impeachment process after clarifying the facts to some extent through a parliamentary investigation and hearing." He reiterated, "Skipping such procedures and proceeding with the impeachment process is a hasty decision."

He added, "For reference, in the United States, the impeachment process begins in the Senate after thoroughly clarifying the facts through an investigation in the House, which is a point we should pay attention to," adding, "That's why I oppose the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol today."

Shin Hyun-bo, Hankyung.com reporter greaterfool@hankyung.com