[Reporter’s Notebook] Tears in a Place That Demands Silence

The National Assembly plenary hall is a place that must be quieter than anywhere else. According to the National Assembly Act, if order is disturbed, the Speaker of the National Assembly can issue warnings, restrain, or even order expulsion. However, the felt experience is that one must hold their breath even more. For example, it is common to see reporters who enter the National Assembly for the first time awkwardly answering phone calls and not knowing what to do in front of security guards.

On the afternoon of the 2nd, a commotion occurred in the gallery of the plenary hall. However, an unusual event took place where no one intervened. When the 'Corporal Chae Special Investigation Act' was passed in the plenary session, Marine Corps reservists wearing red hats and T-shirts bowed their heads and began to cry. One reservist with graying hair sobbed loudly. The sound was so loud that the members of the National Assembly sitting in the plenary hall turned their heads away from Speaker Kim Jin-pyo’s speech to look. Yet, no security guard rushed over to stop them.

"You really went through a lot." Those wearing red hats comforted each other as soon as they left the plenary hall. Their consolation was not simply because Corporal Chae died and it took a long 10 months. It was because the values they believed in had been shattered. Lee Geun-seok, who identified himself as a Marine Corps 214th class, shouted with red, tear-filled eyes. "I am a person who barely survived the Vietnam War and am not affiliated with any political party. Shouldn't we become a just country beyond party lines? Wrongdoings must be corrected."

The ruling party and the presidential office pointed out that cooperation with the opposition collapsed with the passage of the Corporal Chae Special Investigation Act. Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "Considering the legislative process and the content of the bill, we have no choice but to recommend the president exercise the veto power." Jeong Jin-seok, chief of staff to the president, hinted at vetoing, saying, "Even though the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the police are conducting a full-scale investigation, the opposition-led special investigation is being pushed forward, which can only be seen as having political motives rather than uncovering the truth."

According to the National Barometer Survey (NBS) conducted by Embrain Public, K-Stat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research from the 29th of last month for three days targeting 1,000 men and women nationwide aged 18 and over, 67% responded that they supported the special investigation act. President Yoon Suk-yeol promised to listen to public opinion along with an apology after the general election defeat. Suggesting a veto first may go against the spirit of cooperation.