Kim Yongtae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, addressed the special counsel investigation into allegations of interference in the investigation of a Marine's death in the line of duty, stating on the 29th, "Even I, who promised to uncover the truth, did not participate in the vote as Emergency Response Committee Chairman in accordance with the party line," and added, "I sincerely apologize to the bereaved families and the public for this."
Kim Yongtae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman, speaking at the party meeting on the 27th. Photo by Yonhap News
At a press conference at the National Assembly on current issues that day, Chairman Kim said, "I am here to apologize for causing pain to the bereaved families and disappointment to the public during the process of uncovering the truth about the Marine's death in the line of duty."
He stated, "During the previous administration, the government and ruling party regarded the opposition's demand for a special counsel as a politically motivated attack aimed at ousting the administration. The People Power Party maintained the party line that a special counsel would be considered if the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) investigation proved insufficient. However, the CIO's investigation made little progress, and even after the change of administration, no results were produced."
He further pointed out, "If the CIO failed to properly uncover the truth in this case, we should have considered alternative measures to reveal the truth, taking into account the pain of the bereaved families and the public's desire for the truth. After the change of administration, the People Power Party also failed to push through the process of changing the party line regarding the special counsel proposed by the ruling party in June."
He said, "Although the special counsel was opposed by the People Power Party as a party line, I hope that the truth of this case will be fully revealed through the special counsel, so that the fallen Marine can rest in peace and Colonel Park Junghoon, who participated in the investigation, can also restore his honor as a soldier."
Chairman Kim also expressed his view, saying, "I hope there will be a fundamental reflection on the party line system," and added, "When setting a party line, it should be institutionalized so that the three principles of party member sovereignty, voter orientation, and parliamentary autonomy are respected, without being subordinated to those in power."
He mentioned, "Opinion polls across the entire support base and party member votes on important issues should be activated and serve as major references when deciding the party line, and lawmakers' right to choose regarding the party line should also be respected."
He continued, "Through post-evaluation of the party line, lawmakers' choices should be subject to retrospective evaluation. The adoption of a party line should be a process of deliberation for making better choices, not a means of suppressing affiliated lawmakers."
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