Yong Hyein Criticizes Former Capital Defense Commander Lee Jinwoo During Questioning
"Saw Martial Law Lightly Just Because He Was the Commander"
Two-Star General Kang Seonyoung Shouts "Hey" and Demands an Apology
On the 6th, at the 3rd hearing of the 'Special Committee on the National Investigation into the Alleged Treason Charges through the Declaration of Martial Law by the Yoon Seok-yeol Government' held at the National Assembly, Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in and People Power Party lawmaker Kang Seon-young clashed loudly. During questioning of former Army Capital Defense Command Commander Lee Jin-woo, Yong said, “As the Capital Defense Commander and with the military commander-in-chief being a legal expert, they must have thought, ‘He surely made the legal judgment properly,’ and made decisions accordingly, which led to the situation of being arrested on charges of treason.” She criticized, “What is there to be so proud of to talk about it so openly?”
As Yong tried to continue her questioning, Kang raised her voice, saying, “How can you say ‘Capital Defense Commander’ like that?” In response, Yong retorted, “Please be quiet,” and added, “The People Power Party’s floor leader said this morning not to interfere with other lawmakers’ questions. Please reflect on yourself, lawmaker Kang Seon-young.”
Then Kang shouted “Hey,” and Yong replied, “Hey?” and shouted back at Kang, “You did it because you are the Capital Defense Commander, but what if an ordinary soldier did that? Apologize! Don’t say ‘Hey’.” Later, Kang said, “If you apologize for saying ‘Capital Defense Commander,’ I will apologize for saying ‘Hey,’” but Yong refused, saying, “Why should I apologize for that?”
Other opposition lawmakers joined in to support Yong. Chu Mi-ae of the Democratic Party said, “It’s not about criticizing the Capital Defense Commander’s attitude in answering.” Kang insisted, “When opposition lawmakers speak, even if they say ‘crazy,’ the Democratic Party lawmakers let it slide,” and maintained, “Compared to ‘Hey,’ saying ‘crazy’ is a more problematic expression.” She was referring to the fact that in the September hearing for Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun last year, Democratic Party lawmakers criticized Kang by calling her “crazy.”
Eventually, Chairman Ahn Kyu-baek said, “Even if the opposing party’s lawmaker used harsh language, the expression ‘Hey’ is excessive. Apologize formally,” and People Power Party floor leader Han Ki-ho apologized. Han said, “Lawmaker Kang served in the military for over 30 years, so saying ‘Capital Defense Commander’ can be emotionally provocative,” but added, “However, Kang’s remarks were excessive. I apologize for the inappropriate term used.”
Earlier, at the 2nd hearing on the 4th, a similar situation occurred when People Power Party lawmaker Lim Jong-deuk shouted at Yong, “Are you out of your mind?” In response, Yong stated, “Some People Power Party members of the national investigation committee, despite being entrusted with an important national investigation mission, have only been engaging in abusive language, shouting, defending the treason ringleader Yoon Seok-yeol, and inciting false election claims up to this moment,” and announced plans to file complaints against lawmakers Kang Seon-young and Lim Jong-deuk with the National Assembly Ethics Committee.
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