Democratic Party Moves To Impeach Chief Justice Choi Sang-mok

The Democratic Party of South Korea is set to make significant political waves as it plans to submit an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Choi Sang-mok. This decision, confirmed on March 21, 2025, follows a recent general meeting where lawmakers discussed Choi's delays in appointing a successor to a former Constitutional Court Justice.

According to MBC News, a late-night meeting held on March 19 included discussions on whether to push for the impeachment, eventually leading to a decision to delegate authority to the party's leadership. Spokespersons for the Democratic Party stated that the leadership has opted to proceed with the motion, which will be submitted at 2 PM on March 21 during the National Assembly plenary session.

This impeachment effort is not happening in a vacuum. It comes at a time when tensions are higher in South Korea's political landscape. The Democratic Party alleges that Chief Justice Choi has been deliberately delaying the appointment of a successor to former Constitutional Court Justice Maeng, arguing that this constitutes a violation of the constitutional framework. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, expressed frustration over the issue, saying, "The Democratic Party has long warned of impeachment, claiming that Choi is delaying the appointment of a successor to former Constitutional Court Justice Maeng."

The Democratic Party is not alone in this motion; it is collaborating with five minor opposition parties: the Korea Innovation Party, the Progressive Party, the Basic Income Party, and the Social Democratic Party. This coalition underscores the broad-based political discontent regarding Choi's actions. However, the forthcoming vote on the impeachment motion is shrouded in uncertainty, especially given the impending confirmation hearing for Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo, set for March 24, 2025.

With the backdrop of the 30th impeachment attempt within President Yoon Seok-youl’s administration, doubts linger whether this motion will gain enough traction. In a prior meeting, some lawmakers within the Democratic Party expressed concerns that the frequency of impeachment motions could dilute their significance and shift focus away from pressing issues impacting the public.

Chief Justice Choi's fate may hang on both the timing and outcome of Han Duck-soo's confirmation. If Han is confirmed, the prospect for Choi's impeachment might weaken significantly, diluting Democratic Party's momentum. Conversely, should Han's confirmation fail, it may potentially embolden the Democratic Party’s case against Choi.

Party insiders suggest that persuading moderate members within the party is crucial before the full assembly votes on the impeachment motion. The alignment—or misalignment—of the party's internal factions could dictate whether the impeachment passes or fails.

Recent political history in South Korea has shown an increase in the frequency of impeachment attempts, which has raised concerns regarding their impact. As political scientists and commentators police the situation, one must ponder: with every failed impeachment, does the political weight of constitutional governance weaken in the eyes of the electorate?

As the Democratic Party and its allies prepare their case, they find themselves navigating a complicated political landscape, where public sentiment and party dynamics collide. The outcome of this impending vote could set a significant precedent for South Korean governance and influence the trajectory of the current administration's remaining term.