Opposition 6 Parties on Rejection of Special Prosecutor Law for Chae Sang-byeong: "Yoon Starts Impeachment Train... Will Reintroduce in 22nd National Assembly" (Comprehensive)

179 in Favor, 111 Against Rejected
5 Ruling Party Publicly Support, 4 Invalid Votes
Strong Protests from Marine Corps Reservists

After the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae Sang-byeong was rejected in the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 28th following a re-vote, the opposition parties collectively condemned the government and the ruling party. Some criticized, saying, "President Yoon Seok-yeol has started the impeachment train."

The six opposition parties (Democratic Party, Justice Party, New Future Party, Party for National Innovation, Basic Income Party, Progressive Party) held a rally at the National Assembly immediately after the Special Prosecutor Act was rejected that afternoon. Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, stated, "With the rejection of the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae Sang-byeong, it has become clear that President Yoon and the People Power Party are the culprits behind the investigation interference," adding, "If that were not the case, would there be even one reason to so desperately resist and reject the special prosecutor?"

The Democratic Party plans to reintroduce the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae Sang-byeong in the 22nd National Assembly, which begins its term on the 30th. He said, "We will definitely push through the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae to restore the pride of the people and realize justice," and added, "We will thoroughly uncover who is responsible for issuing unjust orders and who is behind the pressure to downplay and conceal the incident."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Party for National Innovation intends to jointly propose the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae Sang-byeong with like-minded opposition parties in the 22nd National Assembly. Kim Bo-hyeop, chief spokesperson for the Party for National Innovation, said in a statement that "the People Power Party did not stand with the people but sided with President Yoon Seok-yeol," and added, "In the 22nd National Assembly opening on May 30, we will jointly propose the 'Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae Sang-byeong' with like-minded opposition parties," and "If President Yoon exercises his veto, we will proceed with a re-vote to ensure its passage." He also sharply criticized, "At this point, I recommend changing the party name from People Power Party to 'Yongsan Power' or 'Yoon Seok-yeol Power.' Or how about 'Yoon Seok-yeol Shield Party' or 'Presidential Family Shield Party'?"

Heo Eun-ah, leader of the Reform New Party, also raised her voice against the government and ruling party, saying, "President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is desperately trying to avoid the special prosecutor until the end, will face the judgment of the people." Heo held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office immediately after the rejection of the special prosecutor act that afternoon, saying, "I am truly sorry to the parents of the deceased Marine soldier," and added, "If politics had a little more human face, if it were a little closer to common sense, if it had a little more understanding of the hearts of young people and parents, this would not have happened. I am very sorry." He said, "The people will raise the disciplinary stick," and "I believe the people will definitely respond from this moment onward."

Choi Seong, chief spokesperson of the New Future Party's emergency committee, said, "President Yoon Seok-yeol should have respected the public sentiment that he betrayed by exercising his veto, but due to the obstruction by the People Power Party, which is no different from a Yongsan-Yeouido branch office, public sentiment was once again abandoned," and claimed, "The people will not forgive the People Power Party that rejected the public sentiment."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Yong Hye-in, floor leader of the Basic Income Party, also criticized the government and ruling party, calling them "forces unqualified to even mention democracy" and "a ruthless regime that should not continue governing." Yong pointed out, "The Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae Sang-byeong should have passed unanimously as a resolution of the National Assembly to thoroughly investigate military accidents without politicizing the dedication of soldiers to the country, but today the People Power Party even abandoned their constitutional duty."

Jang Hye-young, acting floor leader of the Justice Party, said, "The People Power Party has chosen the path of ignoring public sentiment and becoming a sinner of history by shielding a regime that is ultimately collapsing," and warned, "The more President Yoon Seok-yeol and the People Power Party try to hide the truth, the greater the flames of anger will become."

Jung Won-cheol, chairman of the Marine Corps Reserve Association, raised his voice immediately after the rejection, saying, "Our Marine Corps Reserve Association declares a decisive operation against the People Power Party and the Yoon Seok-yeol regime that rejected the special prosecutor for Corporal Chae. We will stand at the forefront of regime resignation."

On the same day, the National Assembly held the last plenary session of the 21st National Assembly and conducted a re-vote on the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae Sang-byeong. The re-vote results showed that out of 294 members present, 179 voted in favor, 111 against, and 4 invalid votes, resulting in the rejection of the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae Sang-byeong. President Yoon exercised his veto on the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae on the 21st. For a bill vetoed by the president to pass again in the plenary session, a majority of the total members must be present, and two-thirds or more of the members present must vote in favor.