Screenshot of the National Assembly's public petition website.

A public petition calling for the impeachment of Lee Jae-myung has garnered over 217,000 signatures in just four days. 

Under the rules for public petitions, any petition that receives more than 50,000 signatures within 30 days is referred to the relevant standing committee of the National Assembly for review. 

As of 11:27 p.m. (Korea Standard Time) on the 29th, 217,813 people had signed the petition, and News and Post (NNP) reported that the number is rising rapidly. 

According to NNP, the petitioner, identified by the surname Kim, stated regarding the grounds for Lee Jae-myung's impeachment: "The President is the head of state who receives authority under the principle of popular sovereignty and has a responsibility to strictly perform duties in accordance with the Constitution." The petitioner added, "However, Mr. Lee Jae-myung's actions are a clear violation of constitutional obligations, and I submit this petition based on the judgment that they meet the requirements for the National Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings."

The petitioner noted, "As a defendant in major criminal cases, the act of serving as President itself conflicts with judicial proceedings," and wrote, "In particular, the suspicions surrounding Daejang-dong, Baekhyeon-dong, and the payment of attorney fees by Ssangbangwool are not merely personal issues but are suspected of being power-related corruption using public office." 

The petitioner also pointed out, "Mr. Lee's political remarks and governance are undermining national unity and damaging the neutrality of state affairs," adding, "He is accelerating national division by criticizing or clashing with major state systems and constitutional institutions such as opposition figures, the media, and the prosecution." 

Furthermore, the petitioner argued that "The President's direct remarks and actions that threaten the independence of the judiciary and the National Assembly can be seen as a violation of the principle of separation of powers," stating, "A President who has lost the trust of the people loses constitutional legitimacy." 

In conclusion, the petitioner stated, "The President must protect the Constitution, guarantee the fundamental rights of the people, and conduct politics based on public trust in state affairs. However, the current President maintains his position as a defendant facing multiple criminal charges and impending judicial judgment, thereby causing a serious rupture in South Korea's constitutional order and system of separation of powers."

The petitioner, Kim, added, "I strongly request that the National Assembly initiate an impeachment motion against President Lee Jae-myung in accordance with Article 65 of the Constitution, and that the Constitutional Court strictly review it to uphold the constitutional order."

Meanwhile, a "Petition for the Impeachment of Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back," which was opened on the 18th, has also exceeded 224,524 signatures as of 11:28 p.m. on the 29th and continues to rise. 

In the statement of purpose, the petitioner, identified by the surname Jang, wrote, "There is growing public concern regarding national security and the safety of service members due to the dismantling of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, the dispersal of key functions, and a lack of responsible measures regarding the deaths of reservists," and added, "I ask the National Assembly to thoroughly investigate the appropriateness of the Defense Minister’s performance of duties and impeach him."

Addressing concerns regarding the dissolution of the Defense Counterintelligence Command and citing Article 5 of the Constitution, the petitioner stated, "As the Minister of National Defense is responsible for maintaining national security, a verification process at the National Assembly level is necessary to determine whether organizational restructuring has weakened security capabilities." 

The petitioner further argued, "The public is raising questions about whether a thorough investigation and disciplinary action against those responsible have been carried out regarding the deaths that occurred during reserve force training and military service," adding, "Protecting the lives of soldiers and reservists is a fundamental duty of the state, and if there was a failure in safety management, the responsibility should be investigated all the way up to the leadership of the Ministry of National Defense."

▲ Petition for the Impeachment of President Lee Jae-myung: https://petitions.assembly.go.kr/proceed/cmtReferred/549F96A331431E69E064B49691C6967B

▲ Petition for the Impeachment of Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back: https://petitions.assembly.go.kr/proceed/onGoingAll/5251C5ED082770A9E064ECE7A7064E8B

Meanwhile, the People Power Party decided at a general meeting that day to submit a motion for the dismissal of Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back as a party platform, following the public petition for his impeachment surpassing 200,000 signatures.

Floor Leader Jung pointed out, "Minister Ahn Gyu-back has incited public anxiety over national security by pushing through measures that shake the foundations of South Korea's national defense—such as dissolving the Defense Counterintelligence Command, consolidating and relocating military academies, and outsourcing rear-area security duties to private firms—without sufficient review."

Floor Leader Jung added, "As soon as the composition of the standing committees is completed, we will closely examine whether Minister Ahn's actions constitute grounds for impeachment and whether there have been any violations of the Constitution and the law."

US NNP = Lead Reporter Sung Ku Hong / Special Report for this publication NNP info@newsandpost.com