DP files no-confidence motion against interior minister

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) on Wednesday submitted a no-confidence motion to the National Assembly against Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, and warned it could push for his impeachment if President Yoon Suk-yeol doesn't dismiss him.

Democratic Party lawmakers Lee Soo-jin, center, and Wi Seong-gon, right, submit their party's no-confidence motion against Interior Minister Lee Sang-min at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul on Wednesday afternoon. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) on Wednesday submitted a no-confidence motion to the National Assembly against Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, and warned it could push for his impeachment if President Yoon Suk-yeol doesn't dismiss him.

The bill holds Lee responsible for inadequate public safety measures that led to the death of 158 people in a Halloween celebration in Itaewon in Yongsan District, central Seoul, and calls for his removal.

The no-confidence motion was submitted by DP lawmakers Wi Seong-gon and Lee Soo-jin on Wednesday afternoon.

DP floor leader Park Hong-geun told reporters that the party plans to pass the no-confidence motion using its supermajority of 169 seats in the 300-member National Assembly at a plenary session on Friday.

The interior minister is widely disliked by the DP and the National Police Agency for spearheading the opening of a ministerial bureau in August to oversee the police, known as the Police Bureau. It is responsible for key policies and regulations related to the police and recommending candidates for senior police positions.

Police officials and rank-and-file officers have protested the Police Bureau’s establishment, arguing that it would damage the National Police Agency’s (NPA) political independence and neutrality.

According to a survey conducted by the civil servants’ labor union, Lee is also unpopular among government workers as a whole, with 83.4 percent of 38,000 surveyed saying he should be removed from his post for the Itaewon tragedy.

If Yoon refuses to dismiss Lee, the DP will table a stronger impeachment motion against the interior minister next week, according to Park.

Lee's ministry has been criticized for not adequately preparing crowd control measures for Itaewon around Halloween.

But the conservative People Power Party (PPP) has pushed back on the DP's demand, arguing that removing Lee would undermine a bipartisan parliamentary investigation of who was responsible for the Oct. 29 tragedy.

PPP lawmakers on the committee that will oversee the parliamentary probe have denounced the demand, saying they could quit the committee if the DP pushes ahead with removing Lee from office.

Both a no-confidence motion or an impeachment bill requires support from one-third of lawmakers to be put to a vote and the approval of one-half of lawmakers to be passed.

The no-confidence motion is not legally binding, while an impeachment bill would be subject to adjudication by the Constitutional Court.

The court would have to decide whether there is enough proof that Lee violated the Constitution or law to justify his removal from office.

Park said the DP is offering the president and the interior minister a “last chance” to take responsibility for the tragedy.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]