Democratic Party: "Refusal of Myeong Taegyun Special Prosecutor Law is Refusal to End Insurrection... Will Punish Acting Chief Choi"

No Jongmyeon: "It Is Not an Exaggeration to Call Him a Collaborator"

The Democratic Party criticized Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, for exercising his veto power on the 'Myeong Taegyun Special Prosecutor Act' on the 14th, calling him an "acting traitor" and stating, "Now is the time for punishment."

No Jong-myeon, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, said in a National Assembly briefing that morning, "The rejection of the Myeong Taegyun Special Prosecutor Act is a declaration of refusal to end the rebellion," adding, "After repeatedly committing unconstitutional acts, to now complain about unconstitutionality is nauseating. We will calmly punish the 'acting traitor.'"

Members of the Democratic Party of Korea participating in the walk demanding the dismissal of President Yoon Suk-yeol are departing from the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, heading toward Gwanghwamun on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News

No, the floor spokesperson, stated, "Acting Prime Minister Choi clearly expressed his intention to cover up the Myeong Taegyun Gate that triggered the rebellion and to fiercely protect the rebellion ringleader Yoon Seok-yeol and his spouse," adding, "Since he refused to end the rebellion, it is not an exaggeration to call him a collaborator in the strict sense."

He continued, "Since temporarily exercising presidential authority at the end of last year, he has vetoed eight bills in just two and a half months," emphasizing, "He has ignored and insulted the legislative power of the National Assembly. He surpasses Yoon Seok-yeol, who vetoed 25 bills over two and a half years."

Regarding Acting Prime Minister Choi's claim that the investigation scope of the Myeong Taegyun Special Prosecutor Act is too broad, he criticized, "There are numerous influential figures in the regime and ruling party involved in the Myeong Taegyun Gate, with various criminal behaviors such as nomination corruption, personnel interference, public opinion manipulation, and involvement in vested interests. Are you saying the investigation scope should be deliberately narrowed?"

On Choi's request to the prosecution, not the special prosecutor, to "clearly reveal the substantive truth," he criticized, "The prosecution received the case from the National Election Commission in December 2023," adding, "The prosecution should have and could have investigated sufficiently over the past one year and four months, but they only pretended to investigate when the media reported or the National Assembly found evidence, then when things quieted down, they discouraged the investigative will of frontline prosecutors and wasted time."

The Democratic Party's Myeong Taegyun Gate Truth Investigation Team also held a press conference at the National Assembly that day, raising their voices in criticism against Acting Prime Minister Choi. Seo Young-kyo, the head of the investigation team and a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "Acting Prime Minister Choi has rejected the Special Prosecutor Act again," adding, "We will definitely hold him accountable for his unconstitutional and illegal veto of the Special Prosecutor Act."