Hong Seok-jun: "Pro-Government Defection Votes in Double Special Prosecutor Re-vote? ... Disregarding the People Power Party"

"Minority Ruling Party's Position... No Choice But to Appeal for Veto"

The Presidential Office announced that it will exercise its right to request reconsideration (veto) on the so-called 'double special prosecution' bills, including the Kim Geon-hee special prosecution and the Daejang-dong 5 billion club special prosecution. In response, Hong Seok-jun, a member of the People Power Party, stated that there will be no defections from the ruling party during the re-vote process. He was outraged that the opposition party is expecting 'defection votes' within the ruling party, saying it is disrespectful to the People Power Party lawmakers.

On the 29th, Hong appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "This special prosecution law itself contains many toxic provisions that are too malicious, which is why there is opposition now," adding, "Expecting some change of heart from those who lost party nominations is disrespectful to each of our People Power Party lawmakers."

The National Assembly held a plenary session the previous day and passed the Kim Geon-hee special prosecution law and the Daejang-dong 5 billion special prosecution law. The bills sent from the National Assembly to the government must be promulgated or a request for reconsideration, i.e., veto, must be exercised within 15 days. The Presidential Office has indicated it will exercise the veto.

On the 28th, at the plenary session held in the National Assembly, the bill concerning the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the bribery allegations related to Hwacheon Daeyu's '5 Billion Club' was passed. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Even if the special prosecution law returns to the National Assembly for a reconsideration vote, there is no regulation on when the vote must take place, so the Democratic Party could schedule the vote after the People Power Party’s nominations. In this case, there is a prospect that 'rebellious votes' from incumbent People Power Party lawmakers who lost in the competition could emerge, leading to the passage of the bill.

Regarding criticism of President Yoon Seok-youl’s exercise of the veto, Hong said, "The Democratic Party is ignoring the National Assembly Act, traditions, and precedents of parliamentary consensus and is forcibly passing the bill solely for political attacks that suit their agenda," adding, "From the perspective of the minority ruling party, we have no choice but to appeal to the president’s veto as a last resort against this forced legislation, which is by no means desirable for the future of the Republic of Korea."

Meanwhile, regarding the controversy over Min Kyung-woo, the nominated emergency committee member of the People Power Party, and his 'elderly disparagement' remarks, Hong expressed the opinion that "looking at the overall context, there was absolutely no intention to disparage the elderly." However, he mentioned that there were some inappropriate remarks that could be understood as disparaging the elderly and advised, "He should clearly express his exact intentions."

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