Kim Moo-sung, a former ruling party head, talks with journalists in parliament. [Namgung Jin-woong = timeid@ajunews.com]
Kim Moo-sung, an influential ruling party politician, turned his back on President Park Geun-hye Wednesday, vowing to support an opposition campaign for her impeachment.
The former Saenuri Party leader blasted Park for violating the constitution by playing a role in a corruption scandal involving her longtime friend, Choi Soon-sil, and presidential aides.
"President Park has betrayed the people and Saenuri," Kim said, adding the president should be impeached for seriously violating the constitution. He leads a faction of outspoken Saenuri lawmakers who have urged Park to drop her party membership for abusing her power.
Kim's comment followed the defection of two senior ruling party members that reduced the number of Saenuri seats in the 300-member National Assembly to 128.
Kim said he would ask disgruntled Saenuri members to support Park's impeachment which requires approval from more than 200 lawmakers. There are 171 opposition and independent lawmakers.
After parliamentary approval, the impeachment motion will be sent to the Constitutional Court for up six months of deliberation. During the period, the president will be suspended.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
