Park Chandae "Yoon's 14th Veto, At This Point It's Like Saying Let's Just Go All Out"

Impeachment Mentioned... "Denial of Majority Rule Principle"

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol's 14th use of the veto power as a "betrayal that goes against the public sentiment from the general election."

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 30th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 30th, at a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Floor Leader Park said, "President Yoon exercised his veto power on four bills, including the Special Act on Jeonse Fraud and the Act on Democratic Meritorious Persons, which were passed at the last plenary session of the 21st National Assembly," adding, "He exercised the veto on the last day of the National Assembly's term, so a re-vote could not be held. This is truly a cowardly and petty administration." He continued, "At this point, it seems like they want to go all out," and raised his voice, saying, "Are they planning to exercise the veto power for the 100th or 200th time? We strongly condemn this anti-democratic outrage that betrays the people by directly defying the public sentiment from the general election and infringes on legislative authority."

He also criticized the government and ruling party for not upholding the spirit of the separation of powers. Floor Leader Park said, "The ruling party and ministers who unconditionally recommend exercising the veto power while abstaining from the plenary session vote, and the president who exercises the veto without any questions or considerations, are acting dictatorially," adding, "It is dictatorship when a minority opposition party throws a tantrum and vetoes unconditionally."

The Democratic Party plans to reintroduce the bills vetoed by President Yoon in the 22nd National Assembly. This includes the Special Act on the Special Prosecutor for the Investigation of Alleged External Pressure in the Death of Corporal Chae (Corporal Chae Special Prosecutor Act), which was rejected at the plenary session on the 28th. Floor Leader Park said, "We will re-push the Special Prosecutor Act to resolve all suspicions surrounding the death of the Marine Corps member," and added, "We will clearly hold the president accountable for privatizing even the veto power granted by the constitution to protect power."

The Democratic Party even mentioned impeachment against President Yoon. Jin Sung-jun, the policy chief of the Democratic Party, said, "It seems that President Yoon will exercise the veto power again in the 22nd National Assembly," and added, "Exercising the veto power on the grounds that there is no bipartisan agreement denies the constitutional principle of majority rule. I believe this constitutes grounds for impeachment." Furthermore, he explained, "To protect the hopes of the people, the Democratic Party will exercise the constitutional authority of the National Assembly," and said, "We will finalize and introduce as party bills the Special Measures Act for Livelihood Issues, which the ruling party refused to agree on, and the Corporal Chae Special Prosecutor Act."