'Presidential Office Investigation' Scope Narrowed by Opposition... Ruling Party Accepts National Audit

Adoption of Party Resolution for 'Parliamentary Inquiry After Budget Approval'
Joo Ho-young: "To Conduct After Budget Approval... Ordered Not to Concede in Negotiations"
Opposition Weighs Including Crisis Management Center, Excluding Security Office... Negotiations Until Plenary Session on 24th
Woo Sang-ho: "No Reason to Reject If Only Departments Related to Disaster Are Included"

The mother of Lee Nam-hoon, a victim of the Itaewon tragedy, is crying out "I love you one last time" during a press conference held on the morning of the 22nd at the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) conference room in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporters Koo Chae-eun and Geum Bo-ryeong] The ruling party has agreed to conduct a parliamentary investigation into the Itaewon Halloween tragedy after the budget bill is passed, thereby accepting the parliamentary investigation proposed by the three opposition parties. The ruling and opposition parties plan to negotiate the scope of the investigation, with the inclusion of the Presidential Office expected to be the main point of contention. Negotiations are expected to proceed urgently until the plenary session scheduled for the 24th.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after a party meeting at the National Assembly, "We have received approval to conduct the parliamentary investigation after the budget bill is passed," adding, "The floor leadership has been delegated authority to negotiate the specific investigation plan, with instructions not to make too many concessions during the talks." Previously, the party had stated in the meeting that "if the investigation results are insufficient, a parliamentary investigation will be conducted," but they withdrew this and decided to participate in the parliamentary investigation.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd, greeting fellow lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

During the party meeting, some members expressed the opinion that the investigation results should be reviewed first and a parliamentary investigation should be conducted only if the results are insufficient, consistent with their previous stance. However, it is interpreted that they accepted the reality that the Democratic Party, which holds an overwhelming number of seats, can unilaterally decide to conduct the parliamentary investigation. The ruling party plans to submit the list of the special committee members after the negotiations are finalized.

The ruling and opposition parties are expected to begin full-scale negotiations regarding the scope of the parliamentary investigation. The People Power Party plans for the floor leadership, including Floor Leader Joo, to lead the negotiations with the opposition parties under delegated authority. Floor Leader Joo explained, "There was a request in the party meeting not to be dragged into the investigation, to boldly conduct the investigation within the scope of uncovering the truth, but to firmly reject any investigation that turns into a political struggle."

Woo Sang-ho, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Attention is focused on whether the 'Presidential Office' will be included in the investigation. Initially, the Democratic Party included the Secretariat, National Security Office, and Presidential Security Service as investigation targets, but there is also discussion about narrowing the scope to the National Crisis Management Center and the Government Situation Room.

Woo Sang-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker appointed as chair of the parliamentary investigation special committee, told Asia Economy in a phone interview that, as a personal opinion, "Including the Crisis Management Center and the Government Situation Room would be sufficient," adding, "The purpose is to verify how reports were made and how the response system operated on the day of the tragedy." Woo said, "We need to discuss further with the floor leaders, senior officials, and ruling party members, as well as the special committee members," and added, "If other agencies like the Presidential Security Service are included in the investigation scope, the ruling party might feel burdened, but if only departments related to the tragedy are included, there should be no reason to refuse."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the three opposition parties?the Democratic Party, the Justice Party, and the Basic Income Party?submitted a "Parliamentary Investigation Plan for the Truth-Finding of the Yongsan Itaewon Tragedy," including the Presidential Secretariat, National Security Office, Presidential Security Service, the Presidential Office, the Office for Government Policy Coordination including the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Justice, Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, National Police Agency, Special Investigation Headquarters of the Police, Fire Agency, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Police Agency, and Yongsan Police Station in Seoul, encompassing all related agencies.

Regarding this, Floor Leader Joo Ho-young was reserved, saying, "If an agreement is reached on the issue of including the Presidential Office, we will announce it." Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, reiterated his intention to have the parliamentary investigation plan adopted at the plenary session on the 24th. At the Supreme Council meeting, Lee said, "If the Yoon Seok-yeol administration obstructs the truth-finding, the people will never forgive them."

On the 22nd, in the main conference room of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) in Seocho-gu, Seoul, the bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster were crying out loud while expressing their feelings and demands during a press conference. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@