"What Are You Afraid Of?" vs. "Restrain Political Strife" Lawmakers Clash Over Adoption of 'Struck Official' Brother as Witness

On the morning of the 8th, attendees are observing a moment of silence for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official who was shot dead by North Korean soldiers during the National Assembly audit of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] On the second day of the National Assembly inspection on the 8th, the ruling and opposition parties continued their disputes over the case of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official who was shot and killed by North Korean soldiers in the West Sea.

The Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee opened the inspection with a moment of silence for the missing official. Chairman Lee Gae-ho, who proposed the moment of silence, urged Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Moon Sung-hyeok and Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard Kim Hong-hee, who attended the inspection, to conduct a thorough investigation, continue the search for the body, and support the bereaved families.

On the same day, the People Power Party demanded the adoption of the deceased official’s brother, Lee Rae-jin, and other bereaved family members as witnesses and called for an on-site investigation by the standing committee. The Democratic Party of Korea countered by urging restraint from political disputes targeting the government and ruling party.

People Power Party lawmaker Lee Man-hee criticized, "Even the President said to wait and see the investigation status of the related agencies, but ruling party lawmakers are hastily imposing a 'defection to the North' frame on the missing person," and asked, "What are you afraid of?"

Fellow party member Kwon Seong-dong added, "Since the government’s announcement and the bereaved family’s opinions differ regarding voluntary defection to the North, the National Assembly, representing the people, wants to hear from the brother as a witness. Why can’t this be accepted?" He continued, "The public is angry because it appears that inter-Korean relations are being prioritized over the safety of our citizens."

In response, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-jin said, "In past cases such as Park Wang-ja, the Cheonan sinking, and the Yeonpyeong Island incident, families were not called to the National Assembly at the early stages of the investigation," and added, "There must be reasons why the Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak administrations did not do so. The same consideration is necessary."

He also expressed displeasure, saying, "It is hard to agree that attacking the ruling party and the President aligns with the wishes of the bereaved families and the deceased." Democratic Party lawmaker Choi In-ho said, "I understand that opposition lawmakers also agreed in a closed meeting of the National Defense Committee that defection to the North is correct," and urged, "It would be better not to demand the adoption of bereaved family members as witnesses again."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.