Site Inspection Scheduled for September 1, Including CCTV Review
Opposition: "Intended to Humiliate"
Jeong Seong-ho Also Says "Difficult to Disclose"
The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the ruling party, adopted a plan to conduct an on-site inspection at the Seoul Detention Center, where former President Yoon Sukyeol is incarcerated. The plan includes reviewing CCTV footage from the facility. The People Power Party immediately protested, claiming this constituted a human rights violation.
On August 26, during a full committee meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee passed the motion to adopt the plan for an on-site inspection at the Seoul Detention Center, where former President Yoon is being held. The motion passed with 10 votes in favor and 5 against out of 15 members present. With the adoption of this plan, an on-site inspection is scheduled for September 1 to investigate allegations of preferential treatment for former President Yoon, including reviewing CCTV footage inside the detention center.
During the debate before the vote, Assemblyman Park Ji-won of the Democratic Party of Korea stated, "In order to bring an end to the insurrection, it is essential to pass this measure so that the public can witness the conduct of the ringleader through an on-site inspection at the Seoul Detention Center."
In contrast, Assemblyman Park Jun-tae of the People Power Party said, "I oppose the idea of reviewing the detention center's CCTV footage," adding, "The circumstances surrounding the attempted arrest of former President Yoon have already been extensively reported by the media, based on statements from Democratic Party members present here." He continued, "I seriously question what national or social benefit would come from releasing this CCTV footage under these circumstances. I believe the intention is to humiliate and ridicule him for political gain."
Assemblyman Park emphasized, "If we decide to release detention center CCTV footage every time a high-profile individual is incarcerated, this could further deepen divisions in our society and we must also consider the human rights implications."
Earlier that day, Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho also addressed the issue during a full session of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts at the National Assembly. In response to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Su-jin, who asked whether the CCTV footage of former President Yoon would be released if approved by a standing committee, Minister Jung said, "It would be difficult to make public any unfortunate incidents that may have occurred during the law enforcement process involving a former President of the Republic of Korea."
Meanwhile, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee also approved, with 8 votes in favor and 6 against out of 14 members present, a motion to file a complaint for incitement to violate the Act on Testimony and Appraisal before the National Assembly. The complaint was filed at the request of the Chaehae Marine Corps Special Prosecutor Team against Song Ho-jong, former chief of the Presidential Security Service, and Lee Gwan-hyung, a member of the "Meotjin Haebyeong" group chat. They are suspected of lobbying to save former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Sung-geun.
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