"We Will Also Investigate Possible Preferential Treatment During Incarceration"
The National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee has decided to visit the Seoul Detention Center, where former President Yoon Seokyeol is currently incarcerated, on September 1 and review the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage inside the detention center concerning former President Yoon.
On August 26, the committee held a plenary session at the National Assembly, where the motion to review the CCTV footage was passed with 10 votes in favor and 5 against out of 15 members present. Chairwoman Choo Mi Ae, presiding over her first session as committee chair, stated, "We will visit the Seoul Detention Center to review whether former President Yoon received any special treatment during his incarceration, as well as to examine video records such as the CCTV footage from the time when the special prosecutor requested his appearance." She added, "Through this, we aim to confirm any circumstances that may indicate obstruction of the investigation."
On the 26th, at the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Chairwoman Chu Mi Ae is striking the gavel. Photo by Yonhap News
Previously, the special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating allegations related to Kim Keonhee, announced that on August 1 they attempted to execute an arrest warrant for former President Yoon at the Seoul Detention Center, but the attempt failed. According to the special prosecutor's explanation, at that time, former President Yoon refused the execution of the arrest warrant by lying on the floor in his underwear, not wearing prison clothes.
However, following the committee's decision on this day, the CCTV footage inside the detention center concerning former President Yoon will now undergo an official release procedure. The committee, however, plans to carefully consider whether to make the relevant footage public, taking into account privacy protection and other factors. It is reported that during the Democratic Party's policy meeting earlier that morning, there were also calls for a cautious review regarding the public release of the CCTV footage.
Regarding this, Democratic Party leader Jung Cheongrae wrote on Facebook, "The Republic of Korea is a nation governed by the rule of law," and added, "If Yoon Seokyeol, who violated the Constitution and the law, also obstructed the enforcement of the law while in prison, he should be punished even more severely. I hope Chairwoman Choo Mi Ae and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee will handle this matter according to the law."
Meanwhile, on the same day, the committee filed complaints against suspects accused of perjury before the National Assembly in relation to the special prosecutor's investigation into the death of a Marine. Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyungtae explained that Song Hojong, former chief of the Presidential Security Service, Lee Gwanhyeong, a member of the "Meotjin Haebyeong" group chat, and others needed to be reported because they allegedly committed perjury or incited perjury during last year's National Assembly audits, hearings, and standing committee meetings related to the case. It is also reported that Lee Jongseop, former Minister of National Defense, Park Jinhee, military advisor at the Ministry of National Defense, and Kim Donghyuk, former chief prosecutor of the Ministry of National Defense, are included among those reported.
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