[비즈한국] On the morning of the 4th, the Constitutional Court announced the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol from office. President Yoon’s side has expressed that it is difficult to accept this ruling. Separate from this, however, the political sphere has begun preparations for the next presidential election in earnest. While major political parties have started mentioning the upcoming election, the Reform Party has already nominated Rep. Lee Jun-seok as its presidential candidate.
President Yoon Suk Yeol’s side finds it difficult to accept the ruling. Attorney Yoon Gap-keun, a member of the president’s legal counsel, stated immediately after the Constitutional Court’s announcement, "The entire process of the impeachment trial, from the preparatory hearing onward, did not follow due process and was conducted unfairly. Even the result is a decision that cannot be accepted from a legal standpoint." He added, "It is regrettable to see this as a purely political decision, and it is a miserable feeling to think if this is something that can happen in the 21st-century Republic of Korea, a country of the rule of law."
Attorney Yoon added, "It is truly miserable and worrying how this will affect the Republic of Korea and its people. It is a pity that while one should look at the big picture for such a decision, it seems they only looked at the peripheral parts—the trees rather than the forest."
President Yoon himself, the party involved, released a statement after the court’s ruling but did not mention whether he would accept the verdict. He stated, "It has been a great honor to work for the Republic of Korea all this time. I am deeply grateful to all of you who supported and cheered for me, despite my many shortcomings." He added, "It is very regrettable and I am sorry that I could not meet your expectations. I will always pray for the beloved Republic of Korea and all of its citizens."
The Presidential Office and the National Assembly appear to be accepting the ruling. Even Acting President Han Duck-soo mentioned the next presidential election. Acting President Han stated, "As Acting President, I will maintain a firm security posture to ensure there are no gaps in national security and diplomacy." He added, "I will do my utmost in managing the next presidential election so that the next government can be launched without a hitch, in accordance with the Constitution and laws, by upholding the will of the people, who are the sovereign power."
Acting President Han also urged civil servants, saying, "As the situation inside and outside the country is grave, I ask you to responsibly fulfill your roles so that there is not the slightest negligence in government operations." He continued, "I hope you will devote yourselves to ensuring that the Republic of Korea overcomes the current crisis and that there is no disruption in the daily lives of each and every citizen."
The eyes of the political world are now turning to the next presidential election. It is reported that major parties have already begun preparations for the upcoming race. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) is mentioning the next election while simultaneously engaging in efforts to soothe public sentiment by emphasizing national stability.
Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, claimed, "The presidential election is in two months. While time is tight, it is an election from which we can never back down and must not lose," adding, "We cannot entrust the future of the Republic of Korea, which we have guarded and cultivated with blood, sweat, and tears, to the dangerous forces of Lee Jae-myung."
Kwon Young-se, chairman of the People Power Party's emergency response committee, said, "Opinions and positions may differ, but the Constitutional Court's judgment is a final decision made within the constitutional order," adding, "I feel a heavy responsibility for not having fulfilled our role as the ruling party."
Chairman Kwon stated, "The People Power Party will fulfill its given constitutional duties to settle the confusion and ensure the Acting President system operates stably so that the constitutional order is not shaken." He added, "We will do our utmost until the end to ensure the People Power Party can serve as a pillar of the nation amidst this unprecedented crisis."
The main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea, also released a future-oriented message that seemed conscious of the next presidential election. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, stated, "We will do our best to ensure that politics becomes a source of hope for the people and the nation, so that the tragedy of constitutional destruction is not repeated." He added, "Together with the people, we will restore the collapsed livelihoods, peace, economy, and democracy in the spirit of grand integration."
Cho Seung-rae, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party, announced, "Now is the time to move toward a path of recovery and growth," adding, "We will do our utmost to overcome the wounds of this national crisis and restore the lives of the people. Going forward, we will serve the will of the people with even greater humility and thoroughness."
The Rebuilding Korea Party also issued a commentary with the next presidential election in mind. Kim Sun-min, acting representative of the Rebuilding Korea Party, said, "The confusion and vacuum of this impeachment situation stem from the extreme two-party system and the absence of politics," adding, "The Rebuilding Korea Party will become a tugboat that leads the Republic of Korea to a more solid future."
The Reform Party has nominated Rep. Lee Jun-seok as its presidential candidate and is moving quickly to prepare for the next election. During an emergency supreme council meeting of the Reform Party on the 4th, Rep. Lee Jun-seok emphasized, "The end of this delusion ultimately resulted in removal. It is a completely natural and common-sense decision." He added, "As a nominated presidential candidate, I will fulfill my duties, and I will loudly proclaim that there exists a conservative force that is not stale and speaks the truth."
The official date for the next presidential election has not yet been set. Political circles view June 3rd as a likely date. Under current law, an election to select a successor must be held within 60 days of a president's removal. Given the timeline, the election must be held by June 3rd. The election date must be announced by the Acting President within ten days of the president's removal. Accordingly, Acting President Han Duck-soo must finalize and announce the date for the next presidential election by April 14th at the latest.