On the 13th, the ruling and opposition parties continued discussions at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's plenary session to process the second 'Special Investigation Act on Treason.' The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, emphasized the urgent arrest and special investigation, arguing that President Yoon Seok-yeol's actions that paralyzed state functions and disrupted the national order constitute treason. On the other hand, the ruling People Power Party agreed with the special investigation bill for a proper investigation but opposed the use of definitive expressions such as 'ringleader of treason' and the inclusion of President Yoon's 'foreign exchange inducement crime,' claiming it lacks legitimacy.
Jeong Cheong-rae, chairman of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, presented the bill on the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the facts of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's treason and foreign exchange acts ('Special Investigation Act on Treason') at the committee's plenary session held in Yeouido, Seoul, that morning.
The opposition emphasized the appropriateness of establishing treason charges against President Yoon and stressed the need for a thorough investigation. Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-kyo asked Kim Seok-woo, acting Minister of Justice, "Treason is when the state's functions are incapacitated, which is a disruption of the national order and constitutes treason. Did Yoon Seok-yeol attempt to paralyze the functions of the National Assembly and the Central Election Commission?" Kim, the acting minister, replied, "That is currently being confirmed based on evidence."
Seo further stated, "Yoon Seok-yeol committed treason. He, along with the Minister of National Defense, Deputy Director and Director of the Security Office, the Commissioner General of the Police, the Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, numerous generals, and the Commander of the Counterintelligence Command, committed treason together," and questioned, "They declared martial law. How can this not be subject to a special investigation?"
The Democratic Party also emphasized the legitimacy of including President Yoon's foreign exchange inducement crime. Party member Park Gyun-taek argued, "(The government) sent unmanned aerial vehicles to North Korea. However, when North Korea protested that unmanned aerial vehicles were sent, we could have lied and denied sending them, but instead, we said we could not confirm, deliberately causing North Korea to misunderstand," adding, "This can only be seen as an incident that provoked North Korea and induced a so-called 'North Wind' incident."
Party member Lee Seong-yoon questioned Acting Minister Kim about whether President Yoon instructed to "carry a knife if a gun is not available and stop them at all costs," raising his voice, "If true, the president incited murder."
On the 13th, Jeong Cheong-rae, the chairman, is striking the gavel at the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
The ruling People Power Party agreed with the special investigation bill but opposed the Democratic Party's bill, claiming it violates legality. Kwak Gyu-taek, the ruling party's floor leader in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, emphasized, "There is no reason for a special investigation as investigative agencies are conducting investigations competitively, resulting in faster investigations than ever."
Party member Song Seok-jun said, "We need to calmly, fairly, and strictly examine the background of why such an emergency occurred and its final impact to prevent repeating unfortunate history," and added, "I sympathize with the intention of the Democratic Party's bill to conduct a proper investigation once."
However, he said, "I think there are significant problems with the special investigation itself, from the title to the content," and criticized, "The opposition is definitively labeling (President Yoon) as guilty of treason and using definitive expressions like 'ringleader of treason.' Such definitive expressions should not be used. In that sense, the special law should be changed to the 'Special Investigation Act on the 12-3 Martial Law-Related Suspicion Investigation.'"
People Power Party lawmaker Park Jun-tae also criticized, "(The special investigation law) allows the investigation period to be extended by 30 days and an additional 30 days," adding, "It effectively permits unlimited and unrestricted searches and seizures, including military secrets," and said, "This can only be seen as a politically motivated demand for investigation that ignores our national security reality."
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