On March 19, South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung caused an uproar by referring to Acting President Choi Sang-mok as a "criminal guilty of neglect" and stating, "Anyone has the authority to apprehend him immediately; therefore, he must be cautious." Lee expressed dissatisfaction over Choi’s postponement in nominating Constitutional Court Judge Ma Eun-hyuk, asserting that this negligence permits not only law enforcers but also regular people to detain him. Nonetheless, legal professionals disregarded these comments as politically motivated statements lacking legal foundation. The governing party denounced Lee's declarations as "thuggish intimidation tactics."
Lee, who was wearing a bulletproof vest because of assassination threats, went to a party leadership conference held at a protest encampment in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Pointing towards the adjacent governmental compound, he remarked, "Isn't Choi operating just over there?" He alleged that Choi was currently committing an offense by failing to perform his responsibilities and stated that both citizens and law enforcement officers have the authority to apprehend him instantly. High-ranking party figure Han Jun-ho supported Lee's accusations, describing Choi’s conduct as akin to assisting parties engaged in treachery.
The governing party contended that Lee was encouraging followers to detain Choi by disclosing how close their office was to the demonstration area. An official from the party stated, "Since there has been no judicial decision establishing a timeframe for Ma’s nomination, labeling this as neglect of duty and suggesting imprisonment is aimed at provoking personal retaliation."
Apparently, Lee has enhanced security measures and cut down on public engagements because of assassination threats. During his statement, he was seen wearing a bulletproof vest and demanded the arrest of Choi, which seems connected to the Constitutional Court’s postponement in deciding on President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment process. Analysts believe this action reflects increasing unease within Lee and the Democratic Party as they await an unannounced verdict from the court.
The leadership of the ruling party vehemently condemned Lee's statements. At a press briefing, Kweon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party (PPP), expressed his shock: "I momentarily questioned whether these remarks originated from an opposition figure or perhaps even a militant organization such as ISIS," describing them as blatant encouragement for unlawful terrorism. Ex-ministers Won Hee-ryong and Han Dong-hoon labeled Lee’s comments as nothing more than gangster rhetoric and acts akin to intimidation tactics used by criminal groups. In reaction, a high-ranking presidential aide announced that Choi’s protective measures would be escalated.
The DP continued discussions on impeaching Choi during a late-night emergency meeting. Floor leader Park Chan-dae had issued an ultimatum the day before, demanding Choi appoint Ma by March 19, saying, “We’ve been patient enough and waited long enough.” However, some lawmakers expressed caution, arguing that impeaching Choi would bring no real benefit and questioning whether it would even lead to Ma’s appointment.
Should the proceedings continue, this would be the 30th impeachment attempt since President Yoon assumed power. Both Yoon and his governing party, the PPP, assert that these recurrent impeachment motions are hindering governmental functions. An official from the Democratic Party voiced apprehension, stating, "Proceeding with an impeachment of Choi after those against President Yoon and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo might push moderate voters away."
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