{"id":2208408,"date":"2025-02-17T17:29:10","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T08:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2208408"},"modified":"2025-03-03T13:30:27","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T04:30:27","slug":"lee-jae-myungs-recall-plan-may-make-south-korean-politics-even-more-chaotic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2025\/02\/lee-jae-myungs-recall-plan-may-make-south-korean-politics-even-more-chaotic\/","title":{"rendered":"Lee Jae-myung\u2019s recall plan may make South Korean politics even more chaotic"},"content":{"rendered":"
Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung has reignited debate over whether South Korean voters should have the power to remove National Assembly lawmakers before their terms end. During a <\/span>speech<\/span><\/a> at the National Assembly on Feb. 10, Lee proposed a recall system that would extend to lawmakers the same voter removal powers that currently exist for mayors and local council members.<\/span><\/p>\n Lee, who is leading polls to become South Korea\u2019s next president if the Constitutional Court upholds President Yoon Suk-yeol\u2019s impeachment, framed the measure as a necessary reform to enhance democratic accountability.<\/span><\/p>\n While proponents argue that recalls would strengthen democratic engagement, critics warn they could deepen political divisions and be weaponized for partisan attacks. Moreover, experts argue that implementing such a system would require legislative changes and possibly constitutional amendments, raising questions about its feasibility.<\/span><\/p>\n A RECALL SYSTEM FOR LAWMAKERS<\/b><\/p>\n During his Feb. 10 speech, Lee argued that lawmakers should be subject to recall by voters, just as local government officials are. He emphasized that this reform could be enacted through legislation rather than a constitutional amendment, making it easier to implement.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe will strengthen direct democracy to reflect the people\u2019s sovereign will in everyday governance,\u201d Lee said.<\/span><\/p>\n The proposal is not new. The Moon Jae-in administration <\/span>previously advocated<\/span><\/a> for a recall system in 2018 as part of a broader set of democratic reforms, including a citizen-initiated legislative process. The Blue House at the time acknowledged the inconsistency in accountability measures, noting that while presidents, local officials and council members could be recalled, National Assembly lawmakers were exempt.<\/span><\/p>\n However, Moon\u2019s proposal <\/span>failed<\/span><\/a> to pass after the National Assembly was unable to reach a quorum in the same year.<\/span><\/p>\n Lee has long supported recall measures. During his 2022 presidential campaign, he called for a national referendum on the issue alongside a proposal to amend presidential term limits. More recently, DP lawmaker Park Joo-min <\/span>introduced legislation<\/span><\/a> that would allow lawmakers to be recalled if a majority of voters supported it and turnout exceeded one-third of eligible voters.<\/span><\/p>\n Main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung greets party lawmakers after his speech, Feb. 10, 2025 | Image: Lee Jae-myung via Facebook<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n FEASIBILITY AND LEGAL HURDLES<\/b><\/p>\n DP spokesperson Cho Seung-rae <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> the party plans to build on Park Joo-min\u2019s legislative efforts instead of pursuing constitutional change, citing ongoing political tensions over Yoon\u2019s potential impeachment. If passed, the new law would expand the 2006 <\/span>Resident Recall Act<\/span><\/a>, which currently allows voters to remove only local government officials.<\/span><\/p>\n South Korea has tested recall laws at the local level. Most recently, Yangyang County residents voted on <\/span>Jan. 10<\/span><\/a> on whether to remove Mayor Kim Jin-ha over bribery and misconduct allegations. The process required both one-third voter turnout and a majority vote for removal. However, no equivalent recall mechanism exists for lawmakers elected at either the district or proportional level.<\/span><\/p>\n Jang Yong-geun, a constitutional law professor at Hongik University, said a recall system could be effective if properly implemented. Jang pointed to the United Kingdom\u2019s <\/span>recall petition<\/span><\/a> model, which allows parliamentarians to be removed if they are formally indicted. He said a similar system \u201ccould apply\u201d to South Korea\u2019s legislature.<\/span><\/p>\n However, he noted the country\u2019s legal principle of presumption of innocence, which allows lawmakers to retain their positions until a final verdict is reached, regardless of the charges they face.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAn indictment implies the presence of criminal charges,\u201d Jang told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>. \u201cBut lawmakers are presumed innocent until proven guilty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Rhee Jong-hoon, a senior consultant for Politics and Business Consulting, voiced support for expanding South Korea\u2019s existing recall system to include lawmakers. He argued that lawmakers should be accountable throughout their four-year term, not just during elections.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good that lawmakers have a full term to work, but if they stray too far from voter expectations, there should be a way for constituents to recall them,\u201d Rhee said. Without such a system, he warned, lawmakers would enjoy \u201cabsolute job security\u201d for four years.<\/span><\/p>\n Rhee described the recall process as a form of voter-driven impeachment. \u201cThis is about giving voters a way to correct a mistake \u2014 like a citizen-led impeachment,\u201d he said. Such a system, he argued, would encourage lawmakers to stay more responsive to public concerns throughout their terms.<\/span><\/p>\n Election officials count ballots during the 2022 presidential election, March 9, 2022 | Image: Korea Pro<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n POLITICAL RISKS AND ABUSE<\/b><\/p>\n While Lee\u2019s proposal is framed as a means to increase accountability, some experts warn that it could further exacerbate South Korea\u2019s <\/span>deep political divisions<\/span><\/a>, especially following the <\/span>Jan. 18 riot<\/span><\/a> at the Seoul Western District Court, where pro-Yoon demonstrators stormed the building.<\/span><\/p>\n Cho Jin-man, a professor of political science at Duksung Women\u2019s University, warned that a recall system could be exploited for partisan purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cA recall system could be exploited for partisan political purposes,\u201d Rhee told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>, emphasizing the need for stringent criteria.<\/span><\/p>\n The ROK Constitution already allows the National Assembly to <\/span>expel<\/span><\/a> lawmakers deemed unfit, though the process requires a two-thirds majority vote and has historically been used sparingly.<\/span><\/p>\n Since 1948, only four expulsion motions have been formally proposed, with the sole successful case occurring in <\/span>1979<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n More recent attempts, such as expulsion motions against lawmakers involved in bribery and fundraising scandals and those who have made inflammatory remarks about sensitive historical issues, have <\/span>failed<\/span><\/a> due to political deadlock.<\/span><\/p>\n However, following Yoon\u2019s <\/span>failed martial law attempt<\/span><\/a>, the 22nd National Assembly has seen a surge in expulsion motions from both the ruling and opposition parties. Five opposition parties recently filed a motion to expel People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, <\/span>accusing<\/span><\/a> him of inciting pro-Yoon rioters on Jan. 18.<\/span><\/p>\n