Government to Submit Itaewon Special Act to Cabinet Meeting on 30th... Veto Possible

by Lee Kimin

Published 28 Jan.2024 14:17(KST)

Review of Support Measures for Itaewon Disaster Victims and Bereaved Families

The government is reportedly set to review a proposal to exercise the right to request reconsideration (veto power) on the "Special Act on Guaranteeing the Rights of Victims of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster, Fact-Finding, and Prevention of Recurrence" (Itaewon Special Act) at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for the 30th.

According to the government, the Itaewon Special Act is expected to be submitted at the regular Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

It is reported that Cabinet members are highly likely to recommend President Yoon Seok-yeol to exercise the veto power on that day. If the proposal to exercise the veto power is passed at the Cabinet meeting, President Yoon is expected to review and then approve it.

If President Yoon approves the veto, the bill will be sent back to the National Assembly, effectively leading to its dismissal.

If the agenda is not raised at this Cabinet meeting, there is also a possibility that a separate extraordinary Cabinet meeting will be held.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is delivering an opening remark at the extraordinary Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 5th. At the meeting, the veto power (request for reconsideration) on the double special prosecution bill (Kim Keon-hee, Daejang-dong) was resolved. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

The Itaewon Disaster Special Act was passed by the National Assembly led by the opposition party and was sent to the government on the 19th. The ruling party proposed renegotiations with the opposition party to exclude toxic clauses, but after the proposal failed, they recommended President Yoon to exercise the veto power.

The ruling party points out that forming a special investigation committee for a matter where investigations have already been completed is inappropriate, and that granting the special committee the authority to conduct searches and hearings is an excessive delegation of power.