The Democratic Party Proposes President Yoon Exercise Veto on the 'Itaewon Disaster Special Act'

Ignoring the Practice of Bipartisan Agreement
Reopen Negotiations When Removing Toxic Clauses

The People Power Party decided to recommend that President Yoon Seok-yeol exercise his veto power (request for reconsideration) regarding the Itaewon disaster special law, which was unilaterally passed in the National Assembly plenary session led by the Democratic Party of Korea.

On the 18th, Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader, told reporters immediately after the National Assembly party meeting, "We have decided to recommend that the president exercise his veto power on the Itaewon special law."

He explained, "The Itaewon special law was processed solely by the opposition party during the standing committee and plenary session procedures," adding, "It disregarded the customary practice of bipartisan agreement when passing special laws that establish bodies requiring special investigations."

Yoon Jae-ok, Floor Leader, Listening to Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Committee Chairman
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Han Sang-gyun = Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is listening to the remarks of Han Dong-hoon, emergency committee chairman, at a party meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on January 18, 2024.
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Earlier, on the 9th, the National Assembly passed the "Special Act on Guaranteeing the Rights of Victims of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster, Fact-Finding, and Prevention of Recurrence," which was proposed by the Democratic Party. The People Power Party protested the opposition's forced passage by abstaining from the vote, and only opposition members voted to pass the bill.

Floor leader Yoon pointed out, "The provision allowing the Special Investigation Committee (SIC) to access records of non-prosecution or suspended investigations has no precedent in similar legislation related to any disasters, including the Sewol ferry disaster."

He added, "Ultimately, rather than expecting the Democratic Party to handle this law amicably between the ruling and opposition parties, it prompted the president to exercise his veto power," criticizing, "This is intended to inflict political damage through the president's veto and to continue politicizing the issue ahead of the general election."

However, while recommending the veto, Floor leader Yoon also left open the possibility of renegotiating with the Democratic Party by proposing measures to ensure fairness in the composition of the SIC and to remove problematic clauses.