The Constitutional Respect Government Innovation Task Force (TF), which is investigating whether public officials participated in the declaration of martial law, plans to exempt those involved in insurrection from disciplinary action if they voluntarily report themselves before the investigation begins.
On December 5, the Office for Government Policy Coordination announced the standards for exemption or reduction of disciplinary action for voluntary reporters. This follows President Lee Jaemyung's directive at the cabinet meeting on December 2 to establish principles for the exemption or reduction of disciplinary action for those who voluntarily report their involvement in insurrection or cooperate with the investigation.
Accordingly, the Constitutional Respect TF will omit disciplinary requests for those who voluntarily report their involvement in insurrection before the investigation starts, and, if necessary, will issue a caution or warning instead.
Even if an investigation has already begun, if individuals actively cooperate in the early stages, the TF will consider reducing disciplinary action and will specify mitigating circumstances in the disciplinary request. For example, if the disciplinary authority initially requests severe disciplinary action, it may be reduced to a lighter penalty.
An official from the Office for Government Policy Coordination explained, "The activities of the Constitutional Respect TF are not aimed at punishment itself, but rather at uncovering concealed facts through voluntary reporting, so that tragedies like the December 3 Martial Law Declaration are never repeated, and to ensure accurate historical records."
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