Twenty-three Lawmakers, Including Na Kyung-won and Jang Dong-hyuk, Gather in Response to Song Eon-seok's Urgent Message
"We Cannot Help but Be Outraged by Politically Motivated Search and Seizure"
On July 11, Song Eon-seok, the emergency committee chair and floor leader of the People Power Party, strongly condemned the search and seizure conducted by Special Prosecutor Lee Myung-hyun’s team at the office of Representative Lim Jong-duk of the People Power Party, who is under investigation for alleged external pressure in the death of Private Chae. Song defined the action as "a clear case of opposition party oppression and political retaliation," and called for its immediate halt.
Speaking to reporters in front of Lim’s office, Song stated, "We cannot help but be outraged, together with the public, at the indiscriminate search and seizure by the special prosecutor, which is intended either to disgrace or oppress the opposition party, and constitutes political retaliation."
He continued, "I understand that the search and seizure, or investigation, of Representative Lim pertains not to his time as a lawmaker, but to his period of service in the presidential office, and that the search and seizure is being conducted in relation to those circumstances." He pointed out, "If there are investigative issues regarding the circumstances at that time, the search and seizure should be conducted at the presidential office."
He further criticized, "Each member of the National Assembly is a constitutional and legislative institution in their own right. Why is the search and seizure being conducted at the National Assembly?"
Song also warned the National Assembly Secretariat, stating, "We will hold you politically accountable for allowing the indiscriminate search and seizure of lawmakers’ offices without any conditions or prior notice."
The special prosecutor’s team entered Lim’s office at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building around 11 a.m. that day. In response, Song sent out an urgent message, calling on lawmakers to "gather immediately in front of Lim’s office (Room 909 of the building)."
Approximately 23 lawmakers gathered in Lim’s office, including Song Eon-seok, Yoo Sang-bum (deputy floor leader for operations), Kim Eun-hye (deputy floor leader for policy), Park Sung-hoon (chief spokesperson), as well as Jang Dong-hyuk, Na Kyung-won, Shin Dong-wook, Yoo Yong-won, Lee Dal-hee, Eom Tae-young, Choi Soo-jin, Lim I-ja, Kim Gun, Han Ki-ho, Choi Eun-seok, Park Sang-woong, Cho Jeong-hoon, Cho Ji-yeon, Kim Jang-gyeom, Cho Seung-hwan, and Cho Bae-sook.
After leaving the office, Representative Na told reporters, "In short, this is intended to disgrace lawmakers, and is both opposition party oppression and political retaliation." She added, "We are protesting the excessive investigation and demanding that any investigation or search and seizure be conducted in accordance with the law and due process."
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