Obstruction of National Assembly's Resolution to Lift Martial Law
Plenary Vote Scheduled for the 27th... Chu Vows to Waive Immunity from Arrest
People Power Party:
The motion to arrest Chu Kyung-ho, a member of the People Power Party who is accused of obstructing the National Assembly's resolution to lift martial law during the 12·3 Martial Law, was reported to the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 13th. The vote is expected to take place at the plenary session on the 27th.
The Secretary General of the National Assembly announced at the plenary session held that afternoon, "On November 7, the government submitted a motion to arrest Assemblyman Chu Kyung-ho to the National Assembly."
On the 13th, Chu Kyung-ho, a member of the People Power Party who has had an arrest warrant requested on charges of engaging in important internal affairs duties, attended the plenary session of the National Assembly where his arrest consent report was scheduled, and was moving to vote on the recommendation of members for the Nuclear Safety Commission. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
Previously, the special prosecutor team led by Cho Eon-seok, which is investigating allegations of insurrection and treason related to the martial law, requested an arrest warrant for Assemblyman Chu on November 3, charging him with engaging in important duties related to insurrection.
The special prosecutor suspects that Assemblyman Chu, after the declaration of martial law, intentionally obstructed the vote on the National Assembly’s resolution to lift martial law by changing the location of the emergency party meeting three times-from the National Assembly to the party headquarters, back to the National Assembly, and then again to the party headquarters-between midnight and 12:03 a.m. on the 4th, after speaking in succession with former Senior Presidential Secretary Hong Cheol-ho and former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
However, Assemblyman Chu maintains that he was not aware in advance of former President Yoon Seok-youl’s declaration of martial law.
On November 4, Assemblyman Chu told reporters at the National Assembly, "As you know, our party meetings are always held alternately in the Budget Committee Room or Room 246 of the main building. On that day, the location was announced as the Budget Committee Room based on the staff’s judgment, but the warrant claims that the purpose of this announcement was to prevent attendance at the plenary session."
Sitting members of the National Assembly are protected by immunity from arrest during a session, so the motion to arrest must pass the plenary session before the court can hold a pretrial detention hearing. The vote must take place between 24 and 72 hours after the motion is reported to the plenary session, but if this deadline is missed, it will be put to a vote at the next plenary session.
The Democratic Party and the People Power Party have agreed to hold a plenary session on the 27th to vote on the motion to arrest Assemblyman Chu. If a majority of all members are present and a majority of those present vote in favor, the motion will pass. Since the Democratic Party holds a majority of seats, the likelihood of passage is high.
Assemblyman Chu previously stated, "I have promised the people that I would give up my immunity from arrest. I will keep that promise this time as well," adding, "I will not hide behind immunity but will face this matter with confidence."
Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized at the party meeting held before the plenary session, "President Lee Jaemyung claims he knew nothing about Daejang-dong, nothing about Kim Moon-ki, the head of Seongnam Development Corporation, and nothing about the remittance to North Korea, saying it was the vice governor’s responsibility. Yet, he insists that our former floor leader Chu knew about martial law months in advance and obstructed the vote. This is the height of hypocrisy and reveals the ugly face of the Democratic Party."
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