The National Assembly's "Special Committee on the Truth Investigation of the Insurrection Charges through the Declaration of Martial Law by the Yoon Seok-yeol Government" passed a motion on the 14th, led by the opposition party, to summon President Yoon Seok-yeol as a witness at the hearing. The ruling party opposed the move, calling it "nothing but an attempt to embarrass the president."
The special committee on the insurrection investigation submitted a motion in the afternoon to adopt general hearing witnesses, approving a plan to summon a total of 76 people, including President Yoon, as witnesses for the national investigation hearing. The motion was passed by a voice vote amid opposition from the ruling party, with 11 in favor and 7 against out of 18 members present.
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who were identified as key figures related to the insurrection charges, were also included.
Han Byung-do, the opposition party's secretary of the special committee and a Democratic Party lawmaker, argued for summoning President Yoon as a witness, stating, "If President Yoon does not appear as a witness for the national investigation, this investigation will degenerate into a hollow procedure that cannot reach the truth."
On the 14th, a plenary meeting of the 'Special Committee for the National Investigation into the Alleged Insurrection Charges through the Declaration of Martial Law by the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration' was held at the National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
On the other hand, the ruling party opposed the decision, calling it merely an attempt to embarrass the president. Joo Jin-woo, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, said, "Not only will the truth not be uncovered, but it will also turn into an embarrassment," adding, "It is neither necessary for uncovering the truth nor desirable considering national dignity or national interest."
The People Power Party also insisted that Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and six other Democratic lawmakers, as well as broadcaster Kim Eo-jun, should be summoned as witnesses. Gwak Gyu-taek, a lawmaker from the same party, argued for summoning opposition figures as witnesses, saying, "Witnesses requested by the People Power Party were not reflected."
The special committee on the national investigation plans to hold its first hearing on the 22nd.
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