Gominjeong "Is Deputy Prime Minister Lee Ju-ho Preparing to Act as Interim Leader... No Public Statement"

"'Yonan Secretary Involved in 'Insurrection,' Will Establish in National Assembly'"

Democratic Party lawmaker Ko Min-jung evaluated the possibility of Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, taking over as acting president if the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol is passed, saying, "Deputy Prime Minister Lee seems to be minimizing his words and preparing to act as the authority."

On the 12th, on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Rep. Ko said, "Deputy Prime Minister Lee has not made any public statements so far," and "He also did not attend the full meeting of the National Assembly's Education Committee on the 9th." She added, "Looking at the ongoing situation, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok are suspected of involvement in martial law due to remarks made in the National Assembly," and speculated, "Deputy Prime Minister Lee seems to have intentionally minimized his words and been absent, judging that even a single word in the National Assembly could be used against him."

According to the Constitution, the first in line to act as authority in case of the president's accident or vacancy is the Prime Minister. However, Prime Minister Han is under investigation by the police as a suspect. The second in line, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, is also likely to be investigated by the police for attending the Cabinet meeting held just before the declaration of martial law. Accordingly, there is speculation that Deputy Prime Minister Lee, who did not attend the Cabinet meeting, may take over as acting authority.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Regarding the claim made the previous day by Shin Ji-ho, Deputy Head of Strategy Planning of the People Power Party, that "Mrs. Kim called a YouTuber on the 9th and said, 'Han Dong-hoon must be dealt with,'" Rep. Ko criticized, "If true, it is not a normal mental state," and said, "They are now entering legal review for the crime of rebellion, but the president and his wife have no situational awareness at all."

Rep. Ko also claimed toward President Yoon and Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, "Even as a non-legal professional, I see so many violations of the law," and asserted, "It will be the first case where a presidential couple goes to prison together." On the same day, the National Assembly plenary session will vote on the special investigation law for the rebellion case related to President Yoon's emergency martial law declaration, along with a special investigation law concerning Mrs. Kim Geon-hee.

Rep. Ko emphasized that the National Assembly Steering Committee's inquiry was canceled due to the absence of the Yongsan secretariat and said, "We will summon them to the Steering Committee even if it means adopting all witnesses." She explained, "According to statements made during the emergency inquiry at the National Assembly plenary session the previous day, the president suddenly went out and came back saying, 'I declared martial law,'" and added, "If so, it means that the Yongsan secretariat opened the briefing room door and allowed the president's movements and accompanied him." She continued, "This means that the Yongsan secretariat actively participated in the act of rebellion," and said, "They must come to the National Assembly 100% and answer the lawmakers' questions. They are also subjects of investigation."

During the emergency inquiry the previous day, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryeong claimed, "On the 3rd, at the Cabinet meeting, President Yoon entered the meeting room for about 2 to 3 minutes and then left. There was no declaration of 'ending the meeting,'" and said, "The seated members (Cabinet members) were confused and asked, 'Where did he go?' At that moment, someone played a recording on a mobile phone, and the voice declaring the emergency martial law was heard."