"Initiating Procedures Within the Regular National Assembly According to the People's Will"
Ruling Party Urges Participation... Opposition Hints at Possible Solo Push
Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik expressed his intention to push forward a parliamentary investigation related to the death of Corporal Chae. Speaker Woo requested the People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea to appoint members to the Special Committee for the Parliamentary Investigation (Special Committee). This is interpreted as a final ultimatum to the People Power Party, which opposes the 'Chae Sang-byeong Parliamentary Investigation.'
On the afternoon of the 22nd, Speaker Woo held a press conference at the National Assembly and said, "Today, I report to the people that, according to the will of the people, I will initiate the procedure for a parliamentary investigation into the death of Marine Corporal Chae during this regular session of the National Assembly." This regular session will last until the 10th of next month. The Speaker's office plans to pass the investigation implementation plan before the session ends and proceed with the parliamentary investigation. Setting the schedule suggests the possibility that the Speaker may push forward the investigation by his authority even if the People Power Party does not cooperate in forming the Special Committee.
Speaker Woo Won-shik is holding a press conference on the afternoon of the 22nd at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, requesting the People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea to form a special committee for a national investigation into the death of Chae Hae-byeong. Photo by Yonhap News
According to the Act on the Inspection and Investigation of State Affairs, the National Assembly can conduct a parliamentary investigation through a special committee or standing committee when at least one-quarter of the total members request it. To this end, the Speaker consults with the leaders of each negotiation group to form the investigation special committee or refers it to a standing committee to finalize the investigation committee. The investigation special committee is composed according to the proportion of members from each negotiation group. Since the introduction of the parliamentary investigation system, the only case where a parliamentary investigation proceeded without bipartisan agreement was the 1999 International Monetary Fund (IMF) crisis.
Speaker Woo said, "Until now, parliamentary investigations have been conducted with bipartisan agreement. I have also deliberated on this point," but added, "The public demand and consent, which are the purpose and prerequisite of bipartisan agreement for parliamentary investigations, have already been sufficiently confirmed." He continued, "The National Assembly passed the special investigation law three times, but it was not realized due to the President's veto power," and said, "Now, the parliamentary investigation is inevitable according to the Speaker's judgment." The Chae Sang-byeong special investigation law was vetoed by the President three times in May, July, and October. The Democratic Party submitted a request for the 'Chae Sang-byeong Parliamentary Investigation' to the Speaker's office in June.
Speaker Woo Won-shik and the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties met at the Speaker's Office in the National Assembly on the 18th. From the left, People Power Party Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho, Speaker Woo, and Democratic Party Floor Leader Park Chan-dae. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
On the 19th, Speaker Woo sent an official letter to both parties asking them to state their positions on the 'Chae Sang-byeong Parliamentary Investigation.' On the 18th, even before receiving the letter, People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho said right after meeting with the Speaker, "The police investigation results are out, and the Corruption Investigation Office is conducting an investigation, so I cannot agree on the necessity of a parliamentary investigation." Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae has argued, "The People Power Party has no grounds to refuse," urging the ruling party to participate. The Democratic Party also stated in the afternoon that they immediately agreed to Speaker Woo's request to "(recommend members to the Special Committee)" (spokesperson Kim Seong-hoe).
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