Opposition 6 Parties United in Front of Presidential Office, Demand "Acceptance of Special Investigation on Chae Haebyeong"

On the 11th, six opposition parties including the Democratic Party of Korea urged President Yoon Suk-yeol to accept the 'Special Prosecutor Act on the Investigation Pressure Allegations in the Death Case of Marine Corps Private Chae Sang-byeong' (Chaehaebyeong Special Prosecutor Act).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The leadership of the Democratic Party, the Innovation Party for Justice, the Reform New Party, the Justice Party, the Progressive Party, and the New Future Party held a press conference with Marine Corps veterans in front of the War Memorial near the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day. They argued that President Yoon should not exercise his right to request reconsideration (veto) on the Chaehaebyeong Special Prosecutor Act.

The Chaehaebyeong Special Prosecutor Act was passed solely by the opposition in the National Assembly plenary session on the 2nd of this month. There are expectations that President Yoon will exercise his veto power.

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the press conference, "Is it an unreasonable demand to find out why a young Marine who went to support flood recovery efforts died and whether there was pressure on the investigation?" He added, "Calling a reasonable demand bad politics is itself bad politics."

Park emphasized, "Even if the president exercises his veto, the truth cannot be hidden," and "If the veto is exercised, the public will not tolerate it."

Jo Guk, leader of the Innovation Party for Justice, said, "This issue is not about left or right, nor about ruling or opposition parties, but about the truth," and raised his voice, "If President Yoon exercises the veto again, the people will reject the president next."

Kim Jun-woo, leader of the Justice Party, urged the People Power Party to support the re-passage of the special prosecutor act even if the president exercises his veto. Kim said, "That is the last duty of conservatism."

Kang Sung-hee, lawmaker of the Progressive Party, emphasized, "Let us prepare to resist Yoon Suk-yeol's dictatorship together with the people." Kim Jong-min, floor leader of the New Future Party, explained, "Protecting the soldiers who protect the nation and the people is the duty of the state."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This press conference was held on the occasion of the '700 km march' by Marine Corps veterans, including the 'Marine Corps Academy Class 81 Alumni Association,' composed of colleagues of Park Jeong-hoon, former head of the Marine Corps investigation team who conducted the initial investigation into the death of Private Chae Sang-byeong.

Since February, they have been marching once a month from Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province to Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. On this day, they started the march from Seoul City Hall Plaza. They passed through Itaewon and held a press conference in front of the Yongsan War Memorial.

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, who did not attend the press conference due to overlapping party convention schedules, criticized at the departure ceremony at City Hall Plaza, saying, "The president is trying to block the special prosecutor for reasons he cannot explain."