Emergency Decree-Related Inquiry at National Assembly's Public Administration Committee
No Attendance by Legislative Officer During Meeting
Minister Lee Sang-min: "Urgent Situation"
The Office of Legislative Affairs under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which is responsible for the overall operation of the State Council meetings, revealed on the 3rd that it did not attend the State Council meeting prior to the President's declaration of martial law, describing this situation as 'unprecedented.' It is presumed that the minutes, recordings, or the person responsible for stenography at that time have not been identified.
On the 5th, during an emergency inquiry on martial law at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, Assemblyman Mo Kyung-jong of the Democratic Party asked Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min who prepared the minutes before the martial law declaration on the 3rd. Minister Lee responded, "(The Office of Legislative Affairs) was unable to attend," and added, "Someone among the staff present there must have prepared them."
An emergency inquiry regarding the police response during the martial law was held on the 5th at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
According to the Public Records Management Act, public institutions must prepare minutes, stenographic records, or audio recordings of major meetings as prescribed by Presidential Decree. In the case of the State Council, the Office of Legislative Affairs under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is responsible for operation and minute-taking.
Furthermore, Kim Han-soo, the Legislative Officer of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, "We do not know (who the recorder was)" and added, "We are currently verifying with the Presidential Office whether the records were delivered." When asked if there is a manual in case the Office of Legislative Affairs does not attend a meeting, Officer Kim said, "There has never been a case where our office did not attend."
Minister Lee previously mentioned regarding the demand for disclosure of the State Council minutes, "In this case, since the Office of Legislative Affairs under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety was not directly involved, we will receive related materials from the Presidential Office and disclose the minutes as soon as they are completed, bringing forward the disclosure as much as possible."
However, when Assemblyman Mo asked, "If stenographic or audio records are not received, will you be willing to request them again properly?" Minister Lee replied, "We will request them," but added, "Since the meeting was convened so urgently at the time, I am not sure whether stenography or recording was done."
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