Prosecutor impeachment hearing turns into chaos over death of Kwon Ik-wi director
Unusual briefing from the presidential office, demands apology… Ruling party submits resolution calling for expulsion of lawmaker
The Commission on the Rights of the People “Promotes recognition of the deceased director as a death in the line of duty”
“Kim Gun-hee is a murderer. Kim Gun-hee and Yoon Seok-yeol killed (Director Kim of the National Human Rights Commission).” (Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Jeon Hyeon-hee)
“(Former lawmaker) didn’t he contribute (to Director Kim’s death)?” (People Power Party lawmaker Song Seok-jun)
At the impeachment hearing of Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Northern District Prosecutors’ Office Kim Young-chul held by the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 14th, led by the Democratic Party and other opposition parties, the ruling and opposition parties clashed head-on over the death of the head of the Kwon Ik-wi Committee. The People Power Party opposed the former lawmaker’s remarks calling him “Kim Gun-hee’s murderer” and pushed for his expulsion from the position, while the presidential office held an unusual briefing five hours after the remarks and demanded an official apology, calling them “groundless remarks and a violation of human rights.”
As the ruling and opposition parties continued their war of words over issues completely unrelated to the impeachment of the prosecutor, the actual impeachment-related questions were not properly asked. At the hearing that day, Prosecutor Kim, who was a party to the impeachment and was selected as a witness, did not appear, and only three of the 20 witnesses, including Im Eun-jung, head of the Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office’s Major Economic Crimes Investigation Unit, appeared. Following the impeachment petition hearing for President Yoon Seok-yeol held last month, this hearing was once again criticized as a “messy hearing.”
● Yongsan responds to ‘Kim Gun-hee murderer’ remarks with “immoral remarks”
The ruling and opposition party lawmakers engaged in a heated argument over the “murderer” remark made immediately after the hearing began that morning. It all started when former lawmaker Jeon, who was the chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, said, “The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission leadership has unfairly sacrificed upright public officials in order to cover up Ms. Kim’s acceptance of luxury handbags.” When Rep. Song responded, “(Rep. Jeon) has no right to say such things,” Rep. Jeon shouted, “Kim Kun-hee is a murderer.” The hearing was adjourned 50 minutes after it began due to the clash between the ruling and opposition party lawmakers. Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae, the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said that he would not give Rep. Song the right to speak unless he apologized.
A senior official at the Blue House criticized, “They spewed out irrational and immoral nonsense behind the privilege of immunity,” and “We demand an apology and responsible measures from the Democratic Party.” Spokesperson for the Blue House Jeong Hye-jeon also responded in a briefing, “The Democratic Party spewed out unspeakable abusive language toward the family of the President of the Republic of Korea elected by the people,” and “It was the Democratic Party that pressured the public sector, ultimately leading to the deceased’s death.” It has been reported that the Blue House is also considering legal action, such as filing a defamation suit.
The People Power Party submitted a resolution to the National Assembly in the name of all of its members, calling for the expulsion of former lawmaker Jeon. In response, the Democratic Party countered, saying, “The Office of the President should feel responsible for the deceased’s death and apologize, but instead, they are distorting the facts and shifting responsibility,” and the battle continued all day.
The Commission on Civil Rights announced that it would actively support the recognition of Director Kim’s death in the line of duty and suggest that the government award him a commendation. In the process of the bereaved family claiming ‘death in the line of duty survivors’ benefits against the organization, the Ministry of Personnel Innovation will determine whether he died in the line of duty. In order for the death to be recognized as a death in the line of duty, the deceased must have suffered from an illness worsened by overwork and stress due to public service, or his cognitive ability must have declined to the point where he could not be expected to make a rational judgment, leading to an extreme choice.
● Opposition party’s “Kim Yong-chol and Jang Si-ho’s inappropriate relationship”
The Democratic Party lawmakers continued their offensive by releasing recordings of phone calls between Jang and an acquaintance, made public by an online media outlet, saying, “We will investigate whether or not there was a private relationship between Prosecutor Kim and Choi Soon-sil’s nephew, Jang Si-ho,” and more. The recordings contain content in which Jang calls Prosecutor Kim “oppa” and “Star Kim.” The Democratic Party has raised suspicions that Prosecutor Kim “covered up the investigation” of Mrs. Kim’s stock manipulation case, and that during the special investigation into the state affairs scandal, Prosecutor Kim had a private relationship with Jang and practiced giving false testimony. The Democratic Party also unilaterally adopted a motion to conduct an on-site inspection of the Seoul Detention Center where Jang was being held, on the 19th, saying that they would confirm the relationship between Prosecutor Kim and Jang. In response, the ruling party dismissed the claims, saying, “(Jang) already lied and asked for forgiveness from Prosecutor Kim.”
Reporter Ahn Gyu-young [email protected]
Reporter Shin Na-ri [email protected]
Reporter Kodo Yea [email protected]
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2024-08-15 07:20:20