The 15th Vetoed Bill Since Yoon's Inauguration
"Truth Revealed Through Police Investigation... Special Prosecutor Should Be Withdrawn"
President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee are moving to lay a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Hawaii, USA, on the 8th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol approved the request for reconsideration of the Special Prosecutor Act on Sergeant Chae Sang-byeong, which was passed at the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on the 9th, the presidential office announced.
With President Yoon exercising his veto power, the Special Prosecutor Act on Sergeant Chae Sang-byeong became the 15th bill to be vetoed since his inauguration and the first vetoed bill of the 22nd National Assembly.
The presidential office pointed out, "In a situation where the substantive truth and responsibility have been revealed through the police investigation results announced yesterday, the Special Prosecutor Act on the fallen marine, which the opposition party unilaterally pushed through, should now be withdrawn."
It added, "Furthermore, there should no longer be any exploitation of the tragic death of the marine who died while performing his duty upon the country's call with political intentions," and "once again, we pray for the repose of the fallen marine and extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family."
Earlier, the government deliberated and approved the request for reconsideration of the Special Prosecutor Act on Sergeant Chae Sang-byeong, which was passed by the plenary session of the National Assembly led by the Democratic Party of Korea, at the Cabinet meeting that morning.
Prime Minister Han said, "A Special Prosecutor Act that adds unconstitutionality upon unconstitutionality cannot be a solution," and emphasized, "I hope that the spirit of dialogue and agreement between the ruling and opposition parties will be restored as soon as possible, ending the vicious cycle of the ruling opposition's legislative dominance and the government's exercise of the request for reconsideration."
President Yoon also exercised his veto power on the Special Prosecutor Act on Sergeant Chae Sang-byeong, which was unilaterally passed by the opposition party in the 21st National Assembly, on May 21. The bill was discarded on May 28 after a re-vote in the National Assembly.
Subsequently, the Democratic Party reintroduced the Special Prosecutor Act on Sergeant Chae Sang-byeong after the 22nd National Assembly convened. The reintroduced bill expanded the scope of the special prosecutor's investigation to cover not only the death case of Sergeant Chae Sang-byeong but also all related derivative matters, and broadened the opposition's authority to recommend special prosecutors, raising the stakes further.
The Democratic Party is expected to push for a re-vote on the Special Prosecutor Act before the first anniversary of Sergeant Chae's death on the 19th.
To pass the re-vote, a majority of the total members must be present, and at least two-thirds of the attending members must approve. If eight or more of the 108 members of the People Power Party defect, the Democratic Party can meet the conditions for passing the re-vote.
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