Tense Atmosphere in the National Assembly... Opposition Prepares for Legislative Hearing

Sergeant Chae Special Investigation and Broadcasting Act Legislative Hearing Scheduled
Rapid Bill Processing Expected by the 19th of Next Month

The Democratic Party of Korea has regrouped ahead of the National Assembly members' questioning of Cabinet members regarding the special investigation law on the death of Corporal Chae (Chae Corporal Special Investigation Law) and the four broadcasting laws (amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act, the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act, and the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea Communications Commission). The Democratic Party is expected to pressure the Yoon Seok-yeol administration by passing both the Chae Corporal Special Investigation Law and the four broadcasting laws in the plenary session of the National Assembly within one month.

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is reviewing the agenda booklet at an emergency party members' meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 20th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 21st, the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee will each hold legislative hearings on the Chae Corporal Special Investigation Law and the four broadcasting laws, respectively. Former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, former Commander of the 1st Marine Division Lim Seong-geun, and former Head of the Marine Corps Investigation Unit Park Jeong-hoon appeared as witnesses before the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee is scheduled to hear from Kim Hong-il, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, Cho Seong-eun, Secretary-General of the Korea Communications Commission, and Lee Heon, Director of the Broadcasting Policy Bureau of the Korea Communications Commission. The Legislation and Judiciary Committee also selected Shin Won-sik, Minister of National Defense, and Kim Gye-hwan, Commander of the Marine Corps, as witnesses, but it is reported that they submitted letters of non-attendance.

The Democratic Party plans to summon figures related to bills that President Yoon Seok-yeol vetoed to the legislative hearings to pressure the administration. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "An important hearing to uncover the truth behind the investigation interference in the Corporal Chae case will be held," adding, "We must open the door to the truth wide open in response to the people's mandate and hold those responsible accountable accordingly."

The Democratic Party reorganized its lineup, holding a closed Supreme Council meeting around 9 p.m. the previous day. Leader Lee, Floor Leader Park, and Democratic Party lawmakers Seo Young-kyo, Ko Min-jung, and Jang Kyung-tae reportedly discussed strategies ahead of the legislative hearings of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee during the Supreme Council meeting. Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae told reporters the previous day, "Many citizens are interested in the hearing regarding Corporal Chae's honorable death," adding, "Many ministers and military officials are expected to appear, so we discussed related matters."

The Democratic Party is expected to swiftly process the Chae Corporal Special Investigation Law and the four broadcasting laws after the legislative hearings. Both the Chae Corporal Special Investigation Law and the four broadcasting laws are expected to pass the plenary session of the National Assembly before the first anniversary of Corporal Chae's death on the 19th of next month. The Legislation and Judiciary Committee passed the Chae Corporal Special Investigation Law at the first subcommittee on bill examination, led by the opposition party, the previous day. The Democratic Party plans to process the Chae Corporal Special Investigation Law through the full Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting after the legislative hearings and send it to the plenary session. The four broadcasting laws passed the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee on the 18th and were forwarded to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

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