ED Going too far

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is exploiting its parliamentary majority to further its agenda. It has weaponized impeachment motions against key officials and manipulated budget deliberations to undermine Cabinet ministers, heads of state-run agencies, and other key figures perceived to be at odds with the party.

The DPK is set to pass motions to impeach four people on Wednesday. The four are Choe Jae-hae, the chair of the Bureau of Audit and Inspection (BAI) of Korea, Lee Chang-soo, the chief of Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office and two other prosecutors. If the motions are passed, the officials in question will be suspended from their duties.

Choe has become a target of the DPK due to what the opposition party describes as "politically motivated investigations" into the previous Moon Jae-in administration, a claim the BAI has denied. If the motion is approved by the National Assembly, Choe will be the first BAI chief to be suspended from duty. The final decision on his case will rest with the Constitutional Court.

Meanwhile, the DPK has accused Lee and two other prosecutors of exonerating first lady Kim Keon Hee in connection with allegations of her involvement in Deutsch Motors' stock price manipulation. The party claims the three prosecutors are now facing repercussions for their so-called "sins." Prior to taking on his leadership role at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Lee had conducted investigations into DPK leader Lee Jae-myung.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) claimed that the DPK-led impeachment motions are a plot to threaten prosecutors investigating the main opposition party leader and paralyze the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

The DPK has gone too far.

The DPK's frequent use of impeachment motions has drawn criticism, with some arguing that it has diminished their seriousness. For example, Lee Jin-sook, the newly appointed head of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), was suspended just two days after assuming office when the DPK passed an impeachment motion against her during a National Assembly plenary session. Her predecessor, Lee Dong-kwan, resigned preemptively as the DPK prepared to impeach him. This prolonged leadership vacuum has severely hindered the KCC's ability to function effectively.

The DPK also leveraged its power to review the government’s budget proposal, cutting 67.8 billion won ($48.3 million) allocated for intelligence and covert operations essential for detecting and investigating national security threats and corruption cases. As a result, law enforcement agencies — including the prosecution, police, and the BAI — are expected to bear the brunt of these cuts. The DPK has pledged to pass the revised budget proposal in the upcoming plenary session.

Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the PPP called it a plot to destroy the prosecution. “The DPK impeached the prosecutors who investigated the DPK leader, and now they are severely cutting the budget for the prosecution,” he said.

The tyranny of the majority has a far-reaching impact on the nation. It creates a lose-lose situation for all involved, casting a shadow over the nation’s future.

No one gains from the DPK’s abuse of power. The actions of the largest party are self-destructive, as the public increasingly views the DPK as a symbol of incompetence. Instead of seeking new solutions, the main opposition party continues to rely on outdated tactics.

The DPK has no future if it continues with such short-sighted tactics. Who could possibly believe that a party like the DPK, with its childish behavior and divisive approach, could manage state affairs effectively? This doubt will only grow, especially if its standard-bearer —whoever that may be — were to be elected in the next presidential election.

The ruling camp suffers as well because the DPK’s repetition of impeachment motions and abuse of its right to deliberate the budget proposal make it difficult for Cabinet ministries and other state-run agencies to implement policies.

The biggest victim is the Korean public. There is a backlog of bills that need to be read, debated, and passed in order to improve the public's livelihoods. However, these important measures are stuck in limbo, held up by the partisan politics that are dominating the parliament.

Enough is enough. The Korean public’s patience is wearing thin. Self-reflection is what’s most needed for the DPK to make it a responsible party in the National Assembly.