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Kim Seung-won of the Democratic Party, Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party, Jang Hye-yeong of the Justice Party, and Park Joo-min of the Democratic Party (left to right), deliver to the National Assembly Bills Division a motion of impeachment prosecution for Interior Minister Lee Sang-min in regard to his ministry’s handling of the deadly Itaewon crowd crush. (pool photo)

On Monday, three opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, filed an impeachment motion against Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min. The move came exactly 100 days after the deadly crowd crush in Itaewon on Oct. 29 last year.

176 lawmakers from the Democratic Party, Justice Party, and Basic Income Party presented the impeachment motion on Monday, saying that "even though the state has the obligation to protect the safety of people, the accused [Lee Sang-min] strikingly neglected his duties even when 159 people needed urgent help,” referring to the number of lives lost in the crowd crush and its aftermath.

In accordance with the National Assembly Act, which states that an impeachment motion must be reported at the first plenary session after its filing, National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo reported the motion at the plenary session held that day at 2:00 pm.

In their motion, the opposition parties argued that Lee, as the main figure in charge of disaster and safety management, should have made relevant plans and taken preventive measures. However, he not only failed to do so but also violated the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety and the State Public Officials Act by not taking any action after the disaster took place and amplifying the disaster.

The opposition parties also argue that Lee violated Article 34 par. 6 of the Constitution, which states, “The State shall endeavor to prevent disasters and to protect citizens from harm therefrom,” as well as Article 10 of the Constitution, which explicates, “All citizens shall be assured of human worth and dignity and have the right to pursuit of happiness.”

The motion to impeach Lee is expected to be put up for a vote at the plenary session on Wednesday in accordance with the rules stipulated in the National Assembly Act, which requires a vote between 24 and 72 hours after the motion is first reported to the plenary session.

The National Assembly can pass an impeachment motion for a Cabinet member with a simple majority (150) of votes in favor. Considering that a motion to impeach the interior minister was adopted by the three opposition parties as official platforms, the numbers in favor of passing the motion are likely to surpass the required threshold.

If the motion is adopted in the plenary session it would be the first time a motion to impeach a Cabinet member passes. Lee’s authority as the interior minister would be suspended as soon as the impeachment motion is passed.

The final decision on whether or not to impeach Lee, however, lies with the Constitutional Court.

Interior Minister Lee Sang-min scratches his chin while appearing for an interpellation session at the National Assembly on Feb. 6, the same day that three of the opposition parties in parliament submitted a Division a motion of impeachment prosecution for the minister in regard to his ministry’s handling of the deadly Itaewon crowd crush. (Kang Chang-kwang/The Hankyoreh)

Still, given the unprecedented and burdensome nature of this case, questions remain about whether the trial will be conducted properly, particularly given that the prosecutor in charge of the case will be Kim Do-eup, a People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker and head of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

The Democratic Party’s circumspect attitude on the matter evidenced by its last-minute choice to adopt the impeachment motion as an official party platform was out of fear of facing backlash if the Constitutional Court does not side in favor of the impeachment motion.

On the other side of the aisle, the People Power Party argued that the prerequisites for filing an impeachment motion had not been met, with floor spokesperson Jang Dong-hyuk said, “Not only is the prosecutors’ investigation into the Itaewon disaster still underway, but the police investigation confirmed no occupational offense.”

Similarly, Chung Jin-suk, the interim leader of the People Power Party, said that the goal of the Democrats in pushing for this impeachment motion was to protect their party leader Lee Jae-myung by making him “bulletproof.”

An official at the presidential office told reporters that it was “not appropriate for the presidential office to take any position because there are many steps left.”

The official further expressed his displeasure with the situation, saying, “I know that many experts are pointing out what kind of constitutional and other laws Minister Lee Sang-min violated and that [they argue] this could set a bad precedent in our constitutional history.”

By Um Ji-won, staff reporter; Shim Wu-sam, staff reporter; Kim Mi-na, staff reporter

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