2024-04-15 03:07:30
The Democratic Party of Korea held a plenary session on the 2nd of next month and announced plans to pass the ‘Corporal Chae Special Prosecutor’s Act’ (Special Prosecutor’s Act to uncover the truth about the obstruction of the investigation and concealment of the case of Corporal Chae of the Marine Corps). The plan is to use the landslide victory in the general election as a stepping stone to continue leading the political situation by pushing for major special prosecution laws within the remaining month of the 21st National Assembly term.
The Special Prosecutor’s Office Act specifies the Office of the President and the Ministry of National Defense as targets of investigation for abuse of power in relation to the concealment, cover-up, and appeasement of the death of Corporal Chae. The Democratic Party previously designated the Corporal Chae Special Prosecutor Act as a fast track agenda at the plenary session in October last year with the cooperation of the Justice Party and other pan-opposition parties. Currently, after 180 days of consideration by the standing committee, it has been automatically submitted to the plenary session on the 3rd of this month.
The People Power Party, which has suffered internal strife due to a crushing election defeat, is maintaining its position that “it is inappropriate to ask for a special prosecution on a matter under investigation.” However, some in the party are openly saying, “Corporal Chae’s Special Prosecutor Act must be accepted,” so the departure vote has to be taken into consideration.
● The Democratic Party is mulling over the policy of handling the ‘Corporal Chae Special Prosecutor Act’
Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said in a phone call on the 14th, “We are discussing with National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and People Power Party floor leader Yoon Jae-ok to handle (the Special Prosecutor Chae Special Prosecution Act) at the plenary session on May 2.” Park Seong-joon, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, also met with reporters on this day and said, “I understand that they are considering handling the special investigation of Corporal Chae and Australian Ambassador Lee Jong-seop next month,” when asked whether the People Power Party expected a vote to deviate from the Corporal Chae Special Prosecution Act. N responded, “It appears that the public will to find out the truth was reflected in this general election, so it seems difficult for People Power Party members to abandon it.”
The opposition party began to pressure the ruling party to agree with the handling of the Special Prosecutor Chae Act, saying, “It is a test bed to confirm President Yoon Seok-yeol’s change in government policy.” The previous day, the Democratic Party said, “If President Yoon Seok-yeol exercises his veto, it will be a rejection of the public will revealed in the general election,” and added, “We warn that we will face national resistance close to disaster.” On the same day, Cho Kuk, representative of the Fatherland Innovation Party, emphasized, “We must pass the plenary session within the term of the 21st National Assembly,” and added, “If President Yoon Seok-yeol abuses his veto again, the people will reject the president.”
Regarding the Democratic Party’s policy of voting for the Special Prosecutor for Corporal Chae Act, the People Power Party maintains the position that “a decision on whether to conduct a special investigation must be made after observing the results of the investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office (High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Office).” During the term of the 21st National Assembly, only legislation related to people’s livelihood should be passed.
However, there are many concerns that if the government insists on opposing the passage of the Special Prosecution Act, public antipathy toward the ruling party will further increase. People Power Party President-elect Ahn Cheol-soo (Bundang-gap, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do) took an accepting stance in a phone call that day, saying, “I think it is important for the people to clearly resolve any questions they have and properly honor the person who died for the country.”
The President’s Office, which had previously opposed the opposition party’s push to pass the bill with its right to request reconsideration (veto), has maintained silence without issuing a position on this.
● Democratic Party’s offensive including re-approval of ‘Itaewon disaster special’
The Democratic Party plans to re-admit in May the ‘Itaewon Disaster Special Act’ (a special law to uncover the truth of the Itaewon disaster, prevent recurrence, and guarantee victims’ rights), which President Yoon Seok-yeol vetoed in January of this year. In order to re-adopt a bill that the President has vetoed, the approval of more than two-thirds of the registered members is required, so passing it is not realistically easy due to the current structure of the National Assembly, but the intention is to continue the pressure on President Yoon. A key member of the Democratic Party’s floor said, “We are discussing with the families of the victims of the Itaewon disaster,” and “We plan to re-admit it within the 21st National Assembly.”
The Democratic Party also plans to pass the ‘Amendment to the Special Act on Victims of Jeonse Fraud’ within the 21st National Assembly, which stipulates that the government first provide relief to victims of jeonse fraud and then seek compensation from landlords.
The ‘Special Prosecutor Kim Kun-hee Act’, which has already been scrapped due to the President’s veto, as well as the ‘Special Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon Act’ pledged by the Fatherland Innovation Party, are expected to be promoted in the 22nd National Assembly.
Reporter Dabin Yoon [email protected]
Reporter Kwon Gu-yong [email protected]
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2024-04-15 03:07:30