After Yoon Seok-yeol’s spouse, Kim Geon-hee, and mother-in-law, Choi Eun-soon, did not attend the second hearing of the petition for President Yoon’s impeachment submitted at the National Assembly, opposition lawmakers went to the Presidential Palace in Seoul to demand their attendance. The process led to a confrontation with the police who tried to prevent the opposition from getting close to Kim and Choi for the hearing.
Democratic Party and Justice Party lawmakers on the parliamentary law committee held a press conference near the Presidential Palace in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, at 1 p.m., urging Kim and Choi to attend the afternoon hearing. Kim, who was named as a witness by the opposition, did not provide a reason for her absence and did not attend the morning hearing.
During the press conference, Kim Seung-won, a Democratic Party lawmaker and opposition law committee member, criticized, “Witness Kim Geon-hee must come forward to the public to explain why she received luxury bags, cosmetics, perfume, and alcohol and why she accepted gifts over 5 million won. She is currently holed up at Hannam-dong Palace, not moving or making any statements.” Jun Hyun-hee, another Democratic Party lawmaker, expressed regret over the absence of those related to the President and Kim Geon-hee in the hearing.
The press conference took place while the hearing was temporarily adjourned. Opposition lawmakers attempted to hold a press conference in front of the Presidential Palace, but the police barricaded them, leading to a confrontation. The press conference eventually took place about 200 meters away from the palace. Kim Seung-won criticized the authorities while expressing his disbelief at how the citizens and the National Assembly were being disregarded.
Lawmakers of the People Power Party submitted a statement of protest, condemning the visit as a “political show of incitement”. They accused the Democratic Party of planning to publicly embarrass Kim Geon-hee, her family, and the President’s former chief secretary, likening the situation to a show trial akin to North Korea’s style. They claimed that the Democratic Party intended to blame the President for the hearing’s disruption.
Out of the 24 witnesses selected for the second hearing, 18 were absent. However, Kim Geon-hee, Choi Eun-soon, and Chong Jin-seok, the President’s former chief secretary, among others, failed to attend without providing a reason. Meanwhile, five witnesses submitted reasons for their absence, including Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok and Lee Jong-ho, the CEO related to stock manipulation suspicions. The hearing resumed at 2:30 p.m., but Kim Geon-hee did not attend.
By Han-sol Ko, sol@hani.co.kr