▲ Lawmakers count the number of ballots inside the parliamentary chamber at the National Assembly in Seoul after an anonymous vote on the impeachment motions against two prosecutors was held on Dec. 1, 2023. (Yonhap)

impeachment-plenary session

National Assembly votes to impeach 2 senior prosecutors

SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Yonhap) -- The opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Friday to impeach two prosecutors, one of them over a political meddling scandal and the other over alleged irregularities that critics say are a pretext to punish him for overseeing an investigation into opposition leader Lee Jae-myung.

Lee's main opposition Democratic Party (DP) led the passage of the impeachment motions against senior prosecutors Son Jun-sung and Lee Jung-seop during a plenary National Assembly meeting boycotted by the ruling People Power Party.

Son was accused of conspiring with a then opposition lawmaker and having him file complaints against then key ruling camp figures so that the prosecution could launch an investigation of them ahead of the 2020 parliamentary elections.

Son was indicted and has been on trial over the charges, and earlier this week, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) demanded a five-year prison sentence for him.

Lee was accused of a string of irregularities, including falsely registering his home address. But critics say the cited infractions are too minor to warrant impeachment, accusing the DP of seeking to impeach the prosecutor for overseeing an investigation into party leader Lee.

After the impeachment motions passed, Son and Lee were immediately suspended from duties until the Constitutional Court decides whether to endorse or reject their impeachment.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]