Criticism of Outdated 'Eolcharyeo' on SNS
"Will Propose 'Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Law' on First Day of National Assembly"
Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, stated on the 27th, "I will closely examine and investigate the consecutive deaths of Army trainees." On the same day, Jo posted on his Facebook, "Yesterday, an Army trainee died while undergoing 'military discipline training.' On the 21st, another trainee lost his life in a grenade accident during training." He added, "In 21st century South Korea, I cannot understand or accept the situation where young men serving in the military die for absurd reasons," and said, "Most young people in our country join the military to fulfill their 'national defense duty.' After reading recent news articles, I thought, 'What parent would want to send their child to the military without worry, and what young person would willingly want to go to the military?'"
Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, is speaking at the joint press conference of opposition parties and civil society condemning the request for reconsideration of the 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act' held at the National Assembly on the 21st. On the same day, the government, at the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, approved the request for reconsideration of the 'Special Prosecutor Act on the Investigation of External Pressure Allegations in the Death Case of Marine Chae Sang-byeong.' [Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@]
Jo continued, "My son was discharged safely as a sergeant, but if my son had suffered a similar accident during his military service, I wonder how I would have felt as a father," and said, "'You become a man by going to the military' was a half-joking, half-serious saying until just over 20 years ago. Even then, it was considered a pre-modern notion." He questioned, "In 2024, is it reasonable and appropriate for the military to enforce discipline through 'eolcharyeo' (physical punishment)? Where should discipline really be enforced?" He also stated, "The human rights of young people fulfilling their national defense duty must be institutionally guaranteed, and appropriate compensation should be provided for unavoidable sacrifices," adding, "I will thoroughly examine and investigate this."
Meanwhile, the Jo Guk Innovation Party announced that on the 30th, the first day of the 22nd National Assembly's term, they will propose the 'Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act' as their party's first official bill. Shin Jang-sik, the party's floor spokesperson, told reporters after the elected members' meeting at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 27th, "Elected member Park Eun-jung will directly submit the Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act on the 30th." The Jo Guk Innovation Party plans to introduce a special prosecutor to investigate allegations including the ghostwriting of a thesis by the daughter of former People Power Party emergency committee member Han Dong-hoon, and suspicions of involvement in the complaint manipulation during the last presidential election. However, it is uncertain whether the special prosecutor bill will actually pass the National Assembly.
For the special prosecutor bill to pass the National Assembly, a majority of the total members must be present, and a majority of those present must approve, requiring cooperation from the Democratic Party. Although the Democratic Party has not expressed opposition to the purpose of the Han Dong-hoon special prosecutor bill, they have not highlighted it as an urgent issue to prioritize as the first bill of the 22nd National Assembly. Shin, the floor spokesperson, explained, "The Jo Guk Innovation Party's 'No. 1 livelihood bill' is related to labor laws, and detailed contents will be disclosed on the 31st."
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