When the National Assembly forms a special committee on state affairs, the disclosure of presidential designated records requiring two-thirds approval of the National Assembly is also possible
Ha Tae-kyung, head of the People Power Party's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Public Official Shooting Incident Fact-Finding Task Force, visited the Korea Coast Guard in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon on the 22nd and questioned Commissioner Jeong Bong-hoon. Head Ha visited the Korea Coast Guard to conduct an on-site inspection to uncover the truth behind the West Sea public official incident, in which a public official was shot by North Korean soldiers in 2020. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group
[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] The ruling and opposition parties are intensifying their blame game over the shooting incident involving a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official. The People Power Party (PPP) has strongly demanded that the Democratic Party establish a special parliamentary committee for a national investigation.
The PPP's Task Force (TF) for investigating the shooting incident of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official held a press conference at the National Assembly on the morning of the 27th, stating, "If a 'National Assembly Special Committee for National Investigation' is formed through bipartisan agreement, it will be possible to disclose presidential designated records that require two-thirds approval of the National Assembly," adding, "At the level of the special committee, it will also be possible to access classified Special Intelligence (SI) information."
They continued, "The public wants to know the truth of that day," emphasizing, "We urge the Democratic Party to promptly form the special investigation committee and cooperate by disclosing all possible materials so that the truth of that day can be revealed."
The PPP is holding former President Moon Jae-in and the previous administration responsible for labeling Lee Dae-jun as having defected to the North. The TF stated, "The judgment of defection, which neither the Ministry of National Defense nor the Coast Guard was confident about, was transformed into an unchangeable fact as soon as it passed through the Blue House," and added, "Some circumstantial evidence was even fabricated to justify the defection. Moreover, former President Moon did not issue any rescue orders despite being informed of the survival of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official."
Ha Tae-kyung, the head of the TF, is demanding 'sincerity' from the Democratic Party. Although the Democratic Party plans to form a related TF including lawmakers Kim Byung-joo, Yoon Gun-young, Hwang Hee, and Kim Byung-gi, Ha believes that having separate TFs in both parties will inevitably face limitations in the investigation. After the press conference, Ha explained to reporters, "The party TF cannot summon all the people who worked at the time because they are all former officials," adding, "Therefore, if the special investigation committee is not formed, it means their (Democratic Party’s) goal is not to uncover the truth."
The PPP has already requested materials as soon as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety issued an authoritative interpretation that documents held by the Ministry of National Defense and other related departments cannot be considered presidential records. If a response arrives within the day, a briefing is expected as early as the 28th.
Meanwhile, Woo Sang-ho, the Democratic Party’s Emergency Response Committee Chairman, met with the family of Lee on the morning of the same day. The family formally requested the disclosure of presidential records related to the incident.
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