Key Figures in Chae Sang-byeong Allegations Remain Silent and Consistent in Denial... '10-Minute Forced Exit' Measure

On the 21st, at the legislative hearing for the 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act' held solely by the opposition party in the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, key figures suspected of exerting pressure on the investigation into the death of Chae Sang-byeong were successively forced to leave.

Jeong Cheong-rae, the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, ordered former Presidential Secretary for Public Office Discipline Lee Si-won, former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, and former 1st Marine Division Commander Lim Seong-geun, who appeared as witnesses, to leave for 10 minutes each.

Former Secretary Lee appeared as a witness but continuously refused to answer the members' repeated questions, citing that he is under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). Chairman Jeong imposed a kind of 'punitive dismissal' on him.

Lee Si-won, former Secretary for Public Office Discipline at the Presidential Secretariat, is responding to questions from committee members at the legislative hearing on the 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act' held by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the morning of the 21st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Minister Lee and former Division Commander Lim also received the same measure from Chairman Jeong for repeatedly interrupting during the members' inquiries.

Member Park Ji-won commented to Chairman Jeong after former Minister Lee was dismissed, saying, "Isn't it better if he leaves? Let him rest..." and added, "Tell him to stand with one foot raised and both hands up."

Chairman Jeong also requested Kim Gye-hwan, the Marine Corps Commander connected via video, to "turn the camera view around."

Chairman Jeong said to Commander Kim, "Since you also serve as the Commander of the Northwest Islands Defense Command, we have arranged for you to testify there instead of calling you directly to the National Assembly," adding, "In that case, the conditions should be the same as those of other witnesses who appeared in the actual meeting room. Are there any legal aides around you?"

When Commander Kim replied, "I am not receiving assistance," Chairman Jeong said, "Turn the camera view to the left and right of the witness."

On the morning of the 21st, a legislative hearing on the "Special Prosecutor Appointment Act for the Investigation of Obstruction and Cover-up of the Truth Regarding the Death of a Marine in the Line of Duty" (Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act) was held at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, with members of the People Power Party absent.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Chairman Jeong warned, "If it is discovered later that (the aides) hurriedly fled after hearing this, they will be held strictly accountable," and asked, "Who are the people beside you?"

Commander Kim responded, "Currently, there are two technical operators, a chief secretary, and a policy director," and said, "I will have them all leave."

Known as the source of the so-called 'VIP rage rumor,' Commander Kim appeared at the National Assembly via a 'video conference' method late in the afternoon instead of attending in person.