The Special Committee on the 'Naeran' National Investigation Holds First Meeting... Investigation Begins Today

Both Ruling and Opposition Participate... Democratic Party's An Kyu-baek Appointed Chairman
45-Day Investigation Targeting Over 20 Institutions Including the Presidential Office

The National Assembly will conduct a parliamentary investigation related to the December 3 emergency martial law incident. This follows Speaker Woo Won-sik's invocation of the National Assembly's investigative authority, urging both ruling and opposition parties to carry out the investigation.

On the 31st, the National Assembly officially launched the "Special Committee for the Parliamentary Investigation into the Truth of the Insurrection through the Declaration of Emergency Martial Law by the Yoon Suk-yeol Government (Special Investigation Committee)" with Assemblyman Ahn Kyu-baek of the Democratic Party of Korea as its chairman. At the first meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Assemblyman Ahn said, "The 'ghost of emergency martial law,' which we thought had permanently disappeared into the annals of history, has been resurrected," adding, "The crime of disturbing the constitutional order and national sovereignty cannot be tolerated for any reason." He emphasized that through the parliamentary investigation, efforts will be made to uncover the truth regardless of party lines.

On the 31st, at the National Assembly, Ahn Kyu-baek, the chairman of the Special Committee for the National Assembly Investigation on the Truth of the Rebellion Act through the Declaration of Martial Law by the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration (Rebellion National Assembly Investigation), is striking the gavel. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

At the meeting that day, the Special Investigation Committee adopted the investigation plan. The plan included the purpose, scope, and duration of the investigation. Once the plan is approved at the plenary session that afternoon, a 45-day investigation will commence immediately. Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, stated at a prior party meeting, "As soon as the Special Investigation Committee's plan is adopted at today's plenary session, activities will begin," and added, "The Democratic Party will do its utmost to thoroughly uncover those responsible for the intrusion into the National Assembly and clarify the truth."

The Special Investigation Committee includes members from both ruling and opposition parties. The committee consists of 18 members in total: 10 from the Democratic Party (Kim Byung-joo, Kim Seung-won, Min Byung-duk, Min Hong-chul, Park Seon-won, Baek Hye-ryun, Ahn Kyu-baek, Yoon Gun-young, Chu Mi-ae, Han Byung-do), 7 from the People Power Party (Kang Sun-young, Kwak Gyu-taek, Kim Sung-won, Park Jun-tae, Lim Jong-deuk, Joo Jin-woo, Han Ki-ho), and 1 from a minor party (Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party). Some opposition members argued that, in addition to the crime of insurrection during the December 3 emergency martial law incident, the crime of foreign exchange violation also applies, calling for swift measures such as 'evidence preservation requests.' Meanwhile, People Power Party members expressed their commitment to diligently carry out the investigation but voiced concerns that there should be no agitation that distorts the truth.

Previously, the National Assembly also passed the so-called "Insurrection Special Prosecutor Act," which appoints a special prosecutor related to the December 3 emergency martial law incident. With the act scheduled to be submitted to the State Council, the National Assembly plans to launch related investigations through the parliamentary inquiry. The first meeting that day was postponed by one day from the originally scheduled date of the 30th due to the Jeju Air passenger plane accident at Muan Airport.