As the Constitutional Court's ruling on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol approaches, the People's Power Party has launched a full-scale offensive to "urge the rejection and dismissal of impeachment." More than 60 members of the party will participate in a "relay protest with five people per group" in front of the Constitutional Court. A petition claiming procedural defects in the impeachment trial has also been submitted.
According to political sources on the 12th, over 60 members of the People's Power Party will participate in the relay protest starting from the 13th. Groups of five will stage a sit-in in front of the Constitutional Court for 24 hours, urging the dismissal of President Yoon's impeachment. It is reported that 62 members, including veteran lawmakers Kim Gi-hyeon, Na Kyung-won, Yoon Jae-ok, and Park Deok-heum, have expressed their intention to participate.
Initially, the People's Power Party set a policy during a general assembly on the previous day (11th) not to pressure the Constitutional Court through outside protests. However, just a day later, more than half of the 108 members of the People's Power Party decided to join the outside protests. This came amid rising internal party sentiment that they could argue for the dismissal or rejection of the impeachment following the court's decision to cancel President Yoon's detention. As the opposition party embarks on a total offensive, including hunger strikes and marches, calls for countermeasures are gaining strength.
The first participants Yoon Sang-hyun and Kang Seung-kyu protested in front of the Constitutional Court for 24 hours starting from 2 p.m. the previous day. After the protest, lawmaker Yoon reiterated the call for "dismissal of impeachment" in a statement, stating, "The opposition party holds emergency meetings two to three times a day, goes out for street protests, and returns to hold general assemblies while being on 24-hour standby. We have no choice but to fight more fiercely and desperately to stop this."
The decision to adopt the format of a "5-person relay protest" instead of a collective outside protest appears to stem from the judgment that a large-scale collective action could be more disadvantageous to the impeachment trial. This also considers the moderate public opinion, which has a high favorability rating for impeachment. In fact, key leaders such as Chairman Kwon Young-se and National Assembly Leader Kwon Seong-dong have decided not to attend.
National Assembly Leader Kwon noted, "The Democratic Party holds general assemblies daily, conducts sit-ins in the Rotunda Hall, and has engaged in hunger strikes and hair shavings. They say they will march today as well. This is genuine pressure on the Constitutional Court." He added, "The 5-person relay protest should be understood as a means for individuals to express their political intent. Will the Constitutional Court feel pressured by (the 5-person protest)?"
The ruling party also submitted a petition urging the "dismissal of impeachment." On this day, 82 members of the People's Power Party, including Representative Na Kyung-won, filed a second petition with the Constitutional Court requesting the dismissal of President Yoon's impeachment trial. The petition includes content stating that the National Assembly's withdrawal of the key reason for impeachment, "treason," has resulted in a loss of identity for the impeachment proposal.
However, key party leaders, including Chairman Kwon Young-se and National Assembly Leader Kwon, did not sign the petition. Representative Na responded to concerns that submitting the petition could appear as pressure on the Constitutional Court, stating, "This is a heartfelt desire and a plea."