Today, the president's impeachment motion will be re-voted...All-out political battle to crack down on votes

■ Host: Anchor Park Seok-won, Anchor Yoon Bori
■ Starring: Lee Joon-woo, member of the People's Power Media Special Committee, Cho Dae-hyun, former head of the Office of the Prime Minister,

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information. Please specify [YTN News Special] when quoting.

[Anchor]
Tensions are rising in the political world ahead of the re-vote of the impeachment motion against the president.

[Anchor]
New news about the martial law investigation continues to come in. Let's take a look at Lee Joon-woo, a member of the Special Committee on People's Power Media, and Cho Dae-hyun, former head of the civil affairs office of the Prime Minister's Office. How are you?

[Anchor]
Both the ruling and opposition parties are engaged in an all-out war ahead of the re-vote of the impeachment motion against President Yoon. Let's first listen to the voices of the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties regarding the vote and talk about it.

[Kwon Seong-dong / People's Power Floor Leader: Our party has made it clear that the declaration of martial law is wrong. It is clear that it was a wrong decision and a grave mistake. Until the president resigns or the impeachment decision is made, he is legally the president of the Republic of Korea. Isn't that a self-evident fact? Impeachment is not an investigation, so we have to make a separate political decision. I would like to say that our party has decided against impeachment by gathering the consensus of the lawmakers anyway. ]

[Lee Jae-myung / Minjoo Party leader: He started a majestic fight to restore his normal life against the brutal and mad insurrection forces. The people's orders are consistent and clear. The Yoon Suk Yeol of "Civil War Monsters" is to stand down right now. Our Democratic Party will vote for the second time tomorrow on the impeachment motion of the president in accordance with that strict order. Impeachment is the quickest and surest way to end the chaos. Please join the pro-impeachment vote tomorrow. ]

[Anchor]
Earlier, we showed you the scene in front of the assembly of the People's Power live, and you are very busy right now. Today's parliamentary meeting must have begun to take place in full swing, but we won't go to the non-participation side like we did in the last vote, right?

[Lee Junwoo]
That's right. The lawmakers on the floor also had a lot of disagreement, but now they seem to have some direction. In particular, lawmakers who voted for Kim Gun-hee's independent counsel law this time openly said that they had shown their steps and that they should approve impeachment this time, and they are conducting a one-man protest, so I think it would be difficult to boycott the vote as recklessly as last time. Listening to Kwon Sung-dong, floor leader Kwon Sung-dong seems to be legally responsible for his focus.

Representative Lee Jae-myung's words seem to be focused on political responsibility. In this current situation, the first emergency martial law in constitutional history, and this situation ahead of impeachment, the law should take precedence above all else. It's a rule of law country.

Judging this by political feelings, or by being caught up in agitation, could be an unfortunate history for our country. So, we should respond calmly according to the principles set by the law, which seems to be the pledge of floor leader Kwon Sung-dong.

[Anchor]
After the president's statement the day before yesterday, factional strife within the party seems to be growing. The atmosphere within the party of the people's power is pro-Yoon. Could there be a change in party lines?

[Cho Dae-hyun]
According to the results of the floor leader election a few days ago, Kwon Sung-dong, the floor leader, was elected at about 7:3, so wouldn't it be a little difficult to change the party's theory? And even if we look at Kwon Sung-dong's one-liners right after the election, I think it will be difficult to change the party's theory. However, when the first vote was held on Dec. 7, the biggest criticism from the public was that he did not participate in the vote at all, rather than voting down the impeachment.

So because there were less than 200 people, wasn't the prosecution itself established? I couldn't even count the votes. I just checked the numbers and couldn't count the votes, so I covered the ballot box, but will I be able to make such a decision again today? There have been so many changes since then. There have been many changes in the past week. The members of the National Assembly who belong to the People's Power
must have been criticized a lot by the local residents because they also have their constituencies. And crucially, last December 12th. Coincidentally, it seems that the discourse released on the very day of the December 12 coup stimulated these parts even more.

So, if you think that the distribution of opinions of lawmakers belonging to the People's Power has changed a lot, I look forward to being active and voting freely in this vote.

[Lee Junwoo]
If you give a brief explanation, it is very unlikely for the Democratic Party, or the opposition party, to boycott the vote, but if you give a brief explanation, it is very common to skip the vote. Not all media or broadcasts film and report it, right?

When the Democratic Party agreed to ratify the Korea-Japan Military Protection Convention last time, it was absent due to the party's argument, saying it was openly opposed. Also, when the ratification of the Korea-U.S. FTA was passed, the Democratic Party was openly absent, saying it opposed it. I will further explain that it is not very special to express opposition by not attending the vote like this, but it is a frequent vote.

[Anchor]
Public opinion seemed to be negative about the absence of the vote because it was a vote on a serious issue in such a severe situation.

[Lee Junwoo]
The question is what kind of agenda it is. Participate, this means vote for impeachment, not participation. On that, I would like to say that although each party has its own position, the absence of the vote itself is not highly criticized.

[Cho Dae-hyun]
I also have to say something, but as Representative Lee Joon-woo said, while working in the National Assembly, I often don't participate in this decision, whether it's party theory or not.

However, it is not common for Korea to be prosecuted for rebellion, is it? Can you do it by law now or not? So do you have to attend the vote? I don't think it's this problem, but how the people are looking at it now, and I think it's a problem to decide after looking at it.

[Anchor]
I broadcast the screen in front of the chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, and it seems that Rep. Noh Jong-myeon of the Democratic Party of Korea makes his position clear after the general meeting. Let's listen to the story on the spot.

[Rep. Roh Jong-myeon / Democratic Party of Korea]
They asked me to be careful with my words and actions until the end. I'm going to go to the front gate and say hello to the citizens and come in. And we decided to do the prosthetic gun one more time at 3:30 p.m. Other than that, there was nothing special to talk about. The only thing that's coming out now is that you've been waiting. Do you have any questions?

[Reporter]

It's a little early, but if the impeachment bill is passed, what you planned separately after the plenary session.

[Rep. Roh Jong-myeon of the Democratic Party of Korea]
There is no schedule for the future. There is a possibility of scheduling something like a cleanup rally after the plenary session at the afternoon general meeting, but nothing has been announced yet.

[Reporter]
Prime Minister Han Deok-soo's impeachment is planned.

[Rep. Roh Jong-myeon of the Democratic Party of Korea]
Today, I decided not to mention anything other than the impeachment of the Yoon Suk Yeol. Please understand that we are not in a situation to comment on whether to review it or not today. Some prospects themselves are now considered meaningless. You have to be nervous until the end, and if you can persuade even one more person, we have about 6 hours left, so we have to do our best. I don't think the expression of optimism itself is appropriate at this time, from our point of view.

[Anchor]
I think we're holding another gun ahead of the plenary session vote at 3:30 p.m. today. I don't think there were any opinions in the morning, but I said that I will focus on persuading the people's power departure vote because there are six hours left. How much do you think the leave vote will be?

[Cho Dae-hyun]
I don't know if it's appropriate to say that in such a serious situation, considering the public opinion after the first round, but who will be the eighth person to announce the public opinion. That reminded me of Rosé's apartment, ironically. If the game is pointed out a few times, it's a kind of drinking game where the person on the floor eats the penalty drink, but who will be on the eighth floor this time?

I feel like this, but there are a lot of people who don't come forward because of who's going to be on the 8th floor and who's going to be on the 8th floor, but I think a lot of 8 people are already within the power of the people. However, I think this will be a kind of toast, not a punishment, and not a solitary confession, so I wonder if someone boldly claims to be the eighth in the power of the people. As I said, there are a lot of eight people even if they don't put a public mark like that, I think.

[Lee Junwoo]
As Rep. Noh Jong-myeon said, he was asked to pay special attention to his words and actions. I think it's the story of CEO Lee Jae-myung. That's what I was interested in, but if you look at the Democratic Party's actions, there's some talk about this. Are you selling rice soup in front of a shopping mall? There's a story like this. What I'm saying is that it's a serious situation, right?

It's a national emergency, and I think it's a request to see this as an opportunity, that is, a red carpet to the presidential election of Chairman Lee Jae-myung, and to be wary of it being seen like this. However, he is careful about his words and actions, but if you look at his various steps, isn't CEO Lee Jae-myung delaying his trial through this and not actually receiving a notice of the case record of the appeals court? It's said that he refused to receive it for the third time.

And I didn't hire a lawyer on purpose. At the same time, I'm postponing the second trial, but I'm saying that I'll make my way to the president easier by delaying the second trial, but in reality, it seems to be very much in line with Lee Jae-myung's presidential strategy.

[Cho Dae-hyun]
I've just seen Rep. Noh Jong-myeon give a short briefing. As you just said, there are two times when they say 'to the end'. Be careful what you say to the end, you must do your best to the end. I said this, but I think there are two meanings to this end. There is even the end of the impeachment vote today.

Another meaning seems to be about after that, but I also talked to a Democratic Party official on the phone because I heard that a parliamentary meeting will be held just before I entered the broadcast. Now that I've tried it, I can't say this, but I think there's enough determination to make sure that impeachment will take place today.

But what I'm worried about now is that today's discussion seems not to have been sufficiently carried out at the parliamentary assembly, but there seem to be these concerns about how to manage the political situation after this impeachment. So, I think there may be concerns about how President Yoon Suk Yeol's actions and extreme arguments from the power of the people will continue to be made and the situation may not be resolved quickly and may lead to another confusion. So I think all of those meanings are implied together.

[Anchor]
Even if you look at the results of recent polls, isn't the difference between the people's power and the Democratic Party growing in party support? In the midst of this, it seems that there will be a lot of risks for the people's power to not participate in the vote like last week. What do you think of the strategy of voting of the people's power today?

[Lee Junwoo]
The party's argument is private and the General Assembly is gathering opinions. As you just said, the poll results are widening the gap between the National Power Party and the Democratic Party. Also, support for the president is falling, of course. CEO Han Dong-hoon's approval rating has fallen to the single digits.

Looking at these things comprehensively, there seems to be such a consensus that it is not correct as a ruling party to show the people to avoid voting here. That's why we're going to participate in the vote. However, if we refer to the last presidential election, I think it will probably go in the form of self-voting. And another reason why I think that's a good possibility is that the presidential office issued a statement yesterday.

He said he would fight at the Constitutional Court if he was impeached. And actually forming a defense team for impeachment. In the case of Kim Hong-il, the former chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, he expressed his resignation to the law firm he originally belonged to. That seems to mean President Yoon Suk Yeol joining the impeachment lawyers.

In addition, former prosecutor Seok Dong-hyun, known as his 40-year-old friend, is heard to join, and there is a senior administrator named Choi Myung-sung in Yongsan. During the Park Geun Hye administration, he served as an impeachment representative and after being impeached, he also served as a lawyer in criminal law. As the three are actively acting as lawyers, the party seems to be determined to prepare for the president's impeachment. So let's vote, and there seems to be a high possibility of asking for an autonomous vote.

[Anchor]
We are making preparations with the approval in mind, but if it happens after the approval, what will happen to the situation within the party? Isn't there a conflict between representative Han Dong-hoon and floor leader Kwon Sung-dong in the two-top system? What will happen to this part?

[Lee Junwoo]
That's the most interesting part of the world. Rep. Kwon Sung-dong said this. The reason why Rep. Kwon Sung-dong was chosen this time was that he said he would consider it after stabilizing and the political situation stabilized. He showed that he did not mean that he would take control of the party on behalf of Chin-yoon, and the lawmakers showed their trust in it.

So I think lawmaker Kwon Sung-dong will only play a role in resolving the situation. However, what many party members and lawmakers think together here is that representative Han Dong-hoon is responsible for the situation to this point. Because you were brought as the emergency chairman in the last general election, right?

At that time, despite having to focus on the general election, he criticized Mrs. Kim by speaking out the same as the opposition party. But what happened to the message in the end? It led to failure. We suffered a crushing defeat in the general election. In other words, the strategy didn't work. Nevertheless, he became the party leader after the national convention, and he is using the same strategy.

So, don't you just look at the words of CEO Han Dong-hoon except for the first name? Then, the situation has come to this point because it was considered the same as what Chairman Lee Jae-myung said, and the fact that the ruling party has an obligation to assist the president when he runs state affairs is also a concern for many party members. Therefore, would it be appropriate for Han Dong-hoon to lead the party while maintaining the party's leadership?

Obviously, there will be a different voice within the party, and I think it will be difficult for representative Han Dong-hoon to endure any longer.

[Anchor]
Rep. Lee Joon-woo seems to be the majority of the pro-Yoon-gye's opinions, but there is a counterargument such as why he can hold Han Dong-hoon responsible for the resolution. How do you view the refutation?

[Cho Dae-hyun]
It's a pity to see CEO Han Dong-hoon now. In the current situation, if it is passed, it will be criticized and pressured as soon as it is passed, and if it is rejected, it will be rejected. If it is passed, it will face a lot of criticism within the party, and if it is rejected, it will be inevitable to avoid criticism from not only parts of the party but also from the people.

I think representative Han Dong-hoon should accept his fate as a politician and as a political leader in this situation. I think CEO Han Dong-hoon is criticized the most because it's the same inside and outside of the people's power, but I've been taking steps to go very far.

As Representative Lee Joon-woo said, after the crushing defeat in the last general election, the by-elections and by-elections recently won a very difficult election. I said this on the show last time, but this is more of a personal talent than a personal talent of Han Dong-hoon. To put it in a broader sense. That's when I took a stance criticizing the president of Yoon Suk Yeol.

And I took a stance criticizing Mrs. Kim Gun-hee. If that is the case in Busan, where there are many conservative votes, there is hope and hope for the power of the people. Therefore, I think that the election of the government led to a victory of the people's power. Then, after returning, he said he would not overreact and revamp without relying on reflective profits.

But how was it after that? I went back and forth after meeting the president of Yoon Suk Yeol. Now, I think it is right to find the stance of representative Han Dong-hoon, who said it is not the logic of the law that was said to be the level of the people, but the level of the people. If sound conservatives mishandle this phase, the entire power of the people could be criticized as a very far-right or unconstitutional party, although it is a little cautious because it is a different party.

Therefore, I hope CEO Han Dong-hoon will be able to take and drag out such a stance that represents sound conservatism.

[Anchor]
In this close, pro-Yoon conflict, opinions on the expulsion of President Yoon and his leaving the party seem to be very divided.

[Lee Junwoo]
That's right. Representative Han Dong-hoon was holding a meeting to select the floor leader on the floor yesterday, but it seems that there was something like this when the party leader went and held a microphone and greeted him after the event. But suddenly, CEO Han Dong-hoon entered the medical presidency. I went in and mobilized all the camera reporters, and I stood right in front of him and said that we should impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, which was not scheduled, and we should do it in favor.

Then he said that the ethics committee should be convened to take action against him, but I think this is a very calculated strategic statement. Because isn't the ethics committee convened? Then, according to the Party Constitutional Party regulations, the ethics committee is supposed to call the person to listen to the person's position and explanation.

But if you refuse, you can skip it and move on. Ethics committee members, can you ask the president to come and ask the president a question and do this? It's practically impossible. And there must be a basis for making a decision at the ethics committee, but the grounds are conflicting with the difficult mixed arguments, so it is actually very difficult to decide what is true and on what basis to make a decision.

So I think I used the ethics committee as a tool to go for impeachment. The ethics committee was opened as a drive to approve the impeachment, and I think I was trying to make the president's situation bad just because I invoked it under my authority to get approval from lawmakers on the floor for impeachment. Looking at these things, I can't get rid of the impression that CEO Han Dong-hoon is in a hurry.

Also, last time, the pros and cons of the impeachment bill went back and forth four or five times. When it comes to the party leader, you have to be very careful. I have to gather the lawmakers' opinions and come to a conclusion, but I think the floor members are probably very anxious because they say they didn't know where the captain himself would go and set the direction key.

[Anchor]
Various opinions seem to be coming out at the general meeting of the lawmakers. After the general meeting is over, we will look at the general meeting situation in a little while. Originally, the Democratic Party of Korea announced today's vote at 5 o'clock, but wasn't it moved to 4 o'clock? The speaker of the National Assembly moved it to 4 o'clock, what's the background?

[Cho Dae-hyun]
If you just understand it simply now, since the report was made yesterday afternoon, what is the point of taking more time to do this part? And even more severe than that, even if it's a minute and a second now, the president still has the right to command the military. As Rep. Kwon Sung-dong said, the incumbent president is the president of Yoon Suk Yeol.

In this state, you're in a position to exercise the enormous power of military command at any time. If you think so, I think it's right to proceed as soon as possible and as soon as possible. I think there is a special meaning in that regard.

[Anchor]
Unlike last week's first round, the impeachment motion only contained emergency martial law. This part is also to speed up, right?

[Lee Junwoo]
There are also things to speed up, and if you look at the contents of the first impeachment motion, there were many sloppy contents. Especially in foreign affairs, the Democratic Party of Korea said that the relationship between Korea and the U.S., normalization of Korea and Japan, and military agreements between Korea and the U.S. were very wrong. At the same time, he said that it was the reason for impeachment that created tension between China and North Korea.

This doesn't make sense. If this becomes a reason for impeachment, all future presidents of our country cannot escape the reason for impeachment. Put yourself in other's shoes. If the president comes out from the opposition party, if the Conservative Party here also takes pro-China or pro-North Korea steps, we can propose a prosecution bill for impeachment.

So, it doesn't make much sense to be able to file an impeachment motion based on whether it is pro-China or Korea-U.S. relations when the position changes, so maybe you took it out because of criticism. That's why he corrected the wrong hastily made impeachment motion, but the judgment on impeachment, it doesn't seem to be trying to speed it up.

[Anchor]
If it is approved today, how should I look at the situation after the approval? If it was necessary to pull it out as soon as possible, it must be because there were such opinions that the Democratic Party of Korea should also suspend its duties as soon as possible, right?
[Cho Dae-hyun]
Rather than reflecting the current opinions of the Democratic Party of Korea, I think the public opinion is like this. If it is approved today, the authority will be suspended immediately. And it's in the official residence rather than the presidential office. You'll be living in a kind of residence. If that happens, it's controversial at the moment.Ma will go to an acting system where all powers are delegated to Prime Minister Han Deok-soo.

Of course, Prime Minister Han Deok-soo could be impeached and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy could take over. That's what happens. And then you're given 180 days, and in that 180 days, it's never actually done in 180 days. It will be shorter than that, but I think the Constitutional Court will review the impeachment bill.

[Anchor]
What was it like to look at past cases? Former President Park Geun Hye or former President Roh Moo Hyun.

[Lee Junwoo]
The impeachment trial of former President Roh Moo Hyun took two months. The president of Park Geun Hye took three months. It comes out three months later and the presidential election is supposed to be held within 60 days. The presidential election was held in two months earlier than that. If President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment motion goes in now, unlike other precedents, former President Park Geun Hye and former President Roh Moo Hyun did not appear in the Constitutional Court.

But as announced yesterday, he says he will explain himself. So, I think I'll write the logic of why I had to declare emergency martial law with the defense team and specific logic. The president's authority is now in the hands of the prime minister. And the president is not in the Oval Office, but he will stay in his official residence.

During the last impeachment, the president stayed in his official residence, not in his office, every time he was impeached. I'm staying at my official residence, and the problem is that the police keep talking about is that an emergency arrest is possible. Of course, it's possible to be arrested urgently. In the case of rebellion, the charges are the only charges that the president can be arrested urgently. But he's being charged with it.

It's a different matter to actually enforce. Emergency arrest can be made right in without a warrant. Then can you let the security team through without a warrant? Since there is no such case, and it is the first time in constitutional history, it is probably impossible to make an emergency arrest without a warrant. It also takes time to get a warrant.

Because many commanders are making different statements now, if it is summarized in a single statement, the court will have to seek a warrant for President Yoon, who is at the peak. So I think there is little possibility of emergency arrest. I would like to tell you that there is a possibility that an arrest warrant will come from the court after a considerable period of time while in the presidential residence.

[Anchor]
Opinions on the composition of constitutional judges also seem to be divided. It's supposed to be a nine-member system, but there are only six people right now. So, there are talks about additional appointments and the judges' political tendencies, so what can this be a variable in the impeachment trial?

[Cho Dae-hyun]
Of course, the position of constitutional judges can clearly have an impact because each individual has his or her own will and is the person who has the most knowledge, experience, and knowledge about the Constitution in Korea. However, if you look at the function of the Constitutional Court, if it violates the Constitution and the law or if it violates it badly, it is judged according to its seriousness.

The word materiality is very important here, but rather than each legal article, how much... Isn't that what materiality means? It's about how badly you violated the Constitution and laws. In the end, I think public opinion is the most important in this area.

So, I believe that constitutional judges will judge from the perspective of the people, regardless of whether they are conservative or progressive. If you look at it that way, I have no choice but to quote this situation right now, I personally think so. Among what expert committee member Lee Jun-woo said earlier, if you make an emergency arrest, you will have a physical collision. In fact, those things are making the people very anxious. It can become a reality.

If you make an emergency arrest, you should issue a warrant within 48 hours of your arrest. If you can't issue it, there's a problem that needs to be solved. Even if you bring a warrant, then the security has the authority to use a firearm under the security law. So if you have a physical conflict like that, it would be very unfortunate.

However, it is the process of going to arrest and arresting a rebellion criminal called the crime of rebellion. And preventing this constitutes an obstruction of justice, unlike the agency's chief must approve military facilities during the search and seizure. in the event of taking a warrant with one And given those changes in the post-impeachment situation, these things, the president is not going to physically resist that way either, I think.

[Anchor]
What about the power of the people? Let's leave it to the Constitutional Court's judgment, there seem to be a lot of stories like this.

[Lee Junwoo]
That's right. Floor leader Kwon Sung-dong said it again to that effect. There are six people in the Constitutional Court right now. There are six people, but seven people are supposed to gather. Six people have to vote. That's how the Constitutional Court's judgment is normally justified. It's not enough.

Because of this situation, the Democratic Party of Korea is now moving to recommend three constitutional judges, but there is no suggestion that they will recommend the bill until today. So, anyway, the integrity of the Constitutional Court in a hurry by the Democratic Party, that is, judging, is the act of the appointed power dismissing the elected power.

So it's not normal for an appointed power to dismiss an elected power, is it? So it has to be a very complete organization. To do that, the Democratic Party will know that it is very uneasy to judge with six people now. So, I think the public will understand if the constitution of the Constitutional Court should be completed in a short period of time.

[Anchor]
I see. Let's stop here. So far, I have been with Lee Joon-woo, a member of the Special Committee on People's Power Media, and Cho Dae-hyun, former chief of the civil affairs office of the Prime Minister's Office. Thank you.