Assemblyman Park Yong-gap Proposes Amendment to National Public Officials Act
"Providing Bonuses and Privileges Does Not Meet Public Expectations"
A legislative amendment is being pursued to suspend salary payments to a president whose duties have been suspended following the passage of an impeachment motion in the National Assembly.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a national address at his Hannam-dong residence on the 14th after his impeachment motion was passed in the National Assembly. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 15th, Park Yong-gap, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced that he had introduced a bill to amend the State Public Officials Act with such content.
The bill's main points include a full reduction of the salary of a public official who has received an impeachment motion and restrictions on viewing, acquiring, or accessing state secrets and job-related confidential information for such an official.
According to current law, when the president's duties are suspended due to the National Assembly's passage of an impeachment motion, the president loses powers such as the command of the armed forces, treaty ratification rights, and appointment authority for public officials, but retains the status of president until the Constitutional Court's decision is made. The president stays at the official residence, continues to receive security and other privileges, and receives the regular salary except for business promotion expenses. Use of official vehicles and the presidential aircraft is also permitted.
Park explained the background of the bill, saying, "On the 14th, the impeachment motion was passed in the plenary session of the National Assembly, and President Yoon Seok-yeol can no longer exercise the powers guaranteed to the president under the Constitution. However, since there is no provision in current law to suspend the president's salary payments, the president continues to receive the salary and can access state secrets or work-related confidential information even after the impeachment motion has been passed."
He added, "Providing a monthly salary of 21.24 million won and various privileges to a president who has violated the constitutional order and thrown the country into chaos does not meet the public's expectations."
Additionally, on the same day, Park also introduced a bill to amend the Passport Act to prevent the Minister of Foreign Affairs from issuing official or diplomatic passports to former presidents who have been impeached.
Park stated, "The principle of no work, no pay should be applied to the president without exception, and the issuance of official and diplomatic passports, which grant various privileges when entering or leaving the country domestically and internationally, should also be suspended."
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