Park Sun-young, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Chair, Walks Out of Public Administration Committee Meeting... "Let's Follow Appointment Procedures"

Park Sun-young, chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Truth and Reconciliation Committee), was expelled during her first appearance at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee (PAS Committee) plenary session. When the opposition party demanded her removal, citing flaws in President Yoon Seok-yeol's appointment process, the ruling party pushed back, asserting that the appointment was legitimate.

Park Sun-young, Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, is leaving the plenary meeting of the Administrative Safety Committee held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 23rd, following demands from Chairman Shin Jeong-hoon and opposition party members. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 23rd, Yoon Gun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the PAS Committee plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "President Yoon appointed the chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee just three days after a treason crime trampled on South Korean democracy," adding, "Because the appointment was made under abnormal circumstances with a problematic individual, it is fundamentally invalid." He also demanded Park’s removal, saying, "There are suspicions that this appointment serves as insurance against his own impeachment." The criticism suggests that President Yoon appointed Park, who is related by marriage to Constitutional Court Justice Jeong Hyeong-sik, as chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee to influence his impeachment trial.

The opposition also took issue with Park’s defense of President Yoon’s illegal emergency martial law. On the 5th, Park posted on her social media, "Because shameless criminals were not dealt with, the country is in this state today," and added, "Let’s clean up South Korea, where those who disrupt the national order run rampant." Jeong Chun-saeng, a member of the Innovation Party for Korea, pointed out, "She is unqualified as chairperson who is supposed to address past issues and heal victims of past state violence."

The ruling party pushed back. Jo Eun-hee, a member of the People Power Party, said, "They are demanding her removal because of her family ties, but nowadays, even children and spouses do not always follow one’s wishes," adding, "Using that as a reason to make personal attacks and defame the newly appointed chairperson is concerning." Kim Jong-yang, also from the People Power Party, explained, "President Yoon appointed Park when the impeachment motion had not yet passed, so there is no procedural or legal problem," and added, "Park has been mentioned as a candidate for chairperson since last month. I don’t think the appointment was decided after the declaration of emergency martial law." Park herself argued that she appeared because she was summoned by the PAS Committee.

Shin Jeong-hoon, chairperson of the PAS Committee, accepted the opposition’s demand for Park’s removal. He said, "Regardless of legality, the most problematic institution as a state agency is the Truth and Reconciliation Committee," and explained, "The chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee continues to make statements that incite division and conflict rather than lead truth and reconciliation." He also criticized, "Reckless behavior and statements that mock the National Assembly, the representative body of the people, do not help any citizen," and added, "This should be an opportunity for self-reflection to qualify as chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee."