Wild Kim Seung-won "A bill so complete that veto is impossible"
Ruling party "No bipartisan agreement... Strengthening veto justification"
Legislative hearing at the Judiciary Committee plenary meeting tomorrow morning
At the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's Bill Review Subcommittee 1, held solely by the Democratic Party of Korea, the 'Special Prosecutor Appointment Act for the Investigation of Obstruction and Concealment of the Truth Regarding the Death in the Line of Duty of Marine Corps Personnel' (Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act) was passed. On the 14th, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee formed Subcommittee 1 with Democratic Party members in the absence of the People Power Party.
The Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act, which passed Subcommittee 1 on the 20th, was proposed by Democratic Party Floor Leader Park Chan-dae in its original form. It stipulates that the Democratic Party and a non-negotiating group each recommend one candidate, from whom the President appoints the special prosecutor. The investigation period is set at 70 days, with the possibility of a single 30-day extension upon presidential approval.
Kim Seung-won, chair of Subcommittee 1 and a Democratic Party member, told reporters after the meeting, "We thoroughly discussed the special prosecutor bill over two sessions," adding, "We have created a law so complete that President Yoon Seok-yeol cannot exercise his veto power against this historic special prosecutor law."
On the 20th, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's First Subcommittee on Bill Examination was held at the National Assembly without the participation of the People Power Party and the government. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Some provisions were also amended. The investigation period can be extended by an additional 30 days, and high-ranking officials subject to investigation are required to avoid duties related to the special prosecutor. Additionally, during the 20-day special prosecutor investigation preparation period, provisions were added allowing evidence collection and investigation activities if necessary to prevent evidence destruction.
The Democratic Party plans to hold a legislative hearing on the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act at the full Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting on the morning of the 21st, followed by processing the bill. Previously, the committee selected 12 hearing witnesses, including former Presidential Office Discipline Secretary Lee Si-won, former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun, and Minister of Justice Park Seong-jae. Among them, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan reportedly submitted letters of absence.
The People Power Party stated that the Democratic Party's unilateral passage of the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act in Subcommittee 1 "only strengthens the justification for the President's re-request right (veto power)." Park Jun-tae, the People Power Party floor spokesperson, claimed in a statement, "The legislative dictatorship by Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung to conceal judicial risks lacks both justification and logic, as there was no bipartisan agreement."
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