Opposition Furious Over Death of Rights Commission Director: "Will Use All Means to Uncover the Truth"

Park Chan-dae "There Should Be No Unjust Sacrifice of Public Officials"
Considering Hearings by the Steering Committee and the Judiciary Committee as Well as the Political Affairs Committee

The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, have expressed their determination to uncover the truth through hearings regarding the death of the Acting Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau at the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

On the 12th, Park Chan-dae, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party, stated at the morning Supreme Council meeting, "Who forced the deceased, who was more sincere than anyone else about anti-corruption, to make a decision against their conscience and hastily close the case involving the First Lady’s luxury handbag? Who is behind this?" He added, "President Yoon Seok-yeol, who said that justice dies when public officials succumb to power, must answer." He continued, "There must be no more cases where justice is suffocated by the ruthlessness of power and innocent public officials become victims. The Democratic Party will definitely reveal the cause that drove a diligent public official and respected family man to death, and uncover the substantive truth."

Park Chan-dae, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Yoon Jong-gun, Democratic Party Floor Spokesperson, criticized in a briefing, "Despite the extreme choice made by the Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the People Power Party refuses to hold hearings. Their reason is that 'the opposition is using the deceased’s death as a political tool.' The public is outraged by the shameless behavior of the People Power Party, which tries to turn any connection to Kim Geon-hee into a reckless political fight." He added, "To prevent any more innocent public officials from becoming victims of external pressure from the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, we will use every possible method in the National Assembly, whether hearings or special investigations, to uncover the truth."

Lee Jae-myung, the likely next leader of the Democratic Party, has also actively engaged with the issue, even changing his social media profile to a mourning status.

The Democratic Party is currently considering three types of hearings to investigate the truth. The relevant standing committee for the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission is the Political Affairs Committee. Kang Jun-hyun, a Democratic Party member and secretary of the Political Affairs Committee, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "The Democratic members of the Political Affairs Committee plan to hold a meeting. At the committee level, we will discuss uncovering the truth, restoring the deceased’s honor, and addressing care and compensation for the family." He added, "We plan to request hearings at the committee level or push for a national audit at the party level to investigate the truth." However, since the chairperson of the Political Affairs Committee is currently Yoon Han-hong of the People Power Party, pushing for hearings is not easy.

Therefore, other methods such as the Steering Committee are also being discussed. Kang Yoo-jung, Democratic Party Floor Spokesperson, explained to reporters the previous day, "Since it is uncertain whether the Political Affairs Committee will convene, we are considering holding hearings through urgent questions at the Steering Committee."

Additionally, a response through the Judiciary Committee is also being considered. On the same day, Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Hyun-hee said in an MBC radio interview, "We have proposed a special investigation law involving the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, Kim Geon-hee, President Yoon Seok-yeol, and other third parties." She added, "We are pushing to hold hearings related to the special investigation law in the Judiciary Committee." This means the issue could be addressed in the form of a legislative hearing. Jeon also conveyed, "The deceased’s mother asked us to protect her son’s honor and to reveal the truth behind this unjust death."

Moreover, the opposition is also considering a national audit.

Meanwhile, voices of concern have also emerged within the ruling party. Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min said on social media, "Upon hearing about the death of the Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, who was responsible for investigating the Dior handbag case, I cannot help but worry whether this country is truly functioning normally." He pointed out, "If public officials, who serve the people, cannot perform their duties according to law, principles, conscience, and common sense, and had no choice but to protest wrongful decisions with their lives, this issue must be corrected for the sake of justice." Yoo emphasized, "The entire decision-making process of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission that closed the Dior handbag case must be investigated. Whether they are officials of the Commission or military personnel from the Marine Corps investigation unit, public officials must carry out their authority and duties according to law, principles, conscience, and common sense for the country to function properly and for justice to prevail."