National Assembly Holds Plenary Session to Pass Chaesangbyeong Special Prosecutor Act Led by Opposition
Ruling Party Plans to Recommend Presidential Veto
The Special Prosecutor Act for Chae Sang-byeong passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 2nd.
On that day, the National Assembly, after agreeing to change the agenda schedule, submitted the bill as an agenda item and passed it after a vote. While members of the People Power Party, except for Representative Kim Woong, left the chamber, opposition party members participated in the vote. The bill was approved unanimously by all 168 members present, including Representative Kim.
According to the originally agreed agenda between the ruling and opposition parties, the Special Prosecutor Act for Chae Sang-byeong was not on the plenary session agenda. However, the Democratic Party requested consent to change the agenda schedule, and Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, after consulting with the floor leaders of both parties, put the consent to change the agenda schedule to a vote. Speaker Kim said, "This bill was designated as a fast-track bill under Article 85 of the National Assembly Act and was submitted to the plenary session in accordance with the National Assembly Act regulations from April 3. If it is not scheduled within 60 days after submission, it must be scheduled in the plenary session thereafter. Since the 21st National Assembly ends on the 29th of this month, it is impossible to wait beyond 60 days. Considering the purpose of introducing the fast-track system in the National Assembly Act, we will handle the consent to change the agenda schedule by vote."
While members of the People Power Party left the chamber en masse, the consent to change the agenda schedule was put to a vote, and the vote was passed with Representative Kim Woong abstaining.
Before the vote, Park Ju-min, the Democratic Party's senior deputy floor leader, explained the proposal, saying, "The Chae Sang-byeong death case is a representative case that requires the introduction of a special prosecutor." He added, "Evidence of external pressure has been revealed everywhere. It was uncovered that during the process of withdrawing the referral, the Public Service Discipline Secretary called the Legal Affairs Officer, enabling an investigation into the presidential office, the highest national authority, without any sanctuary regarding related suspicions." He continued, "Although there is the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, it is small in scale and has been conducting other cases simultaneously. Regardless of investigative will, it took eight months to summon and interrogate the key suspect. For a swift investigation, a large-scale and independent investigative agency is necessary."
Regarding the criticisms from the People Power Party and others about the investigative process briefings being toxic provisions, he pointed out, "Similar provisions existed in several past special prosecutor acts."
The Special Prosecutor Act for Chae Sang-byeong was prepared to investigate allegations that the government obstructed the Marine Corps investigation and attempted to cover up the case concerning the death of Chae Sang-byeong, who died in the line of duty during a search operation for missing persons at the flood damage site in Gyeongbuk in July last year.
With the passage of the Special Prosecutor Act through the National Assembly, the responsibility now shifts to the presidential office.
Regarding the Special Prosecutor Act, the People Power Party plans to recommend President Yoon Seok-yeol to exercise his veto power. Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said at a 'Legislative Rampage Condemnation Rally' protesting the opposition-led passage of the Special Prosecutor Act, "We have no choice but to recommend the president to exercise the veto." On the other hand, Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said, "If the president himself has no hesitation about this case, I think there is no reason to reject the special prosecutor." He added, "It will help the president's future state affairs management to clarify the truth as soon as possible and ensure there is no injustice regarding this case."
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