Yeo "Abuse of Power through External Pressure Constitutes Grounds for Impeachment" Full-scale Offensive (Comprehensive)

"Chaesangbyeong Special Prosecutor Hearing Should Be a Yoon Hearing"
"Im Seong-geun's Underwater Search Order Is an Implied Intentional Murder"

On the 21st, at the legislative hearing for the 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act' held solely by the opposition party in the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the Democratic Party of Korea launched a massive offensive, pointing to President Yoon Seok-yeol as the main figure behind the alleged investigation interference.

The Democratic Party claimed that the so-called 'rage' of President Yoon Seok-yeol was the reason behind the Marine Corps investigation team's investigation materials being transferred to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency on August 2 last year, only to be immediately retrieved.

Im Seong-geun, former commander of the 1st Marine Division, is responding to questions from committee members at the legislative hearing on the "Special Prosecutor Appointment Act for Investigating Obstruction of Truth and Cover-up of the Death of a Marine" (Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act) held at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the morning of the 21st. On the left is Park Jeong-hoon, former head of the Marine Investigation Unit.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Assemblywoman Seo Young-kyo directed her remarks at former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, who ordered the suspension of the police case transfer, saying, "On July 31 last year, at 11 a.m. during the Cabinet meeting, President Yoon was enraged. His anger was expressed as, 'If even the division commander is punished for such a matter, who would want to be a division commander?'" She added, "After that, when a call came from the Presidential Office, Minister Lee's legs trembled, and he canceled the investigation team's briefing. That was when the steps got tangled."

She continued, "All records and materials show that the Office of Public Official Discipline in the Presidential Office called the National Investigation Headquarters to retrieve the investigation records," adding, "This is a complete abuse of authority and a disruption of national order."

Assemblyman Lee Geon-tae stated, "The essence of the investigation interference case is the Yongsan Gate, which was manipulated by lobbying to save Division Commander Lim Seong-geun," and argued, "Based on the evidence and circumstances revealed so far, the president himself acted like a special prosecutor, retrieving investigation records and granting immunity to Division Commander Lim Seong-geun."

Assemblyman Park Gyun-taek said, "Division Commander Lim suddenly ordered underwater searches by soldiers and put them in the area where even armored vehicles could not hold out," adding, "I even think this is not just professional negligence resulting in death, but an implied intent to kill, as if the participating soldiers 'did not care if they died.'"

There were also claims that if circumstances of presidential interference in investigations are revealed through investigations by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), it could be grounds for impeachment.

Assemblywoman Jeon Hyun-hee said, "Several phone call contents strongly imply that the president illegally exerted external pressure and was involved in the theft of investigation records," adding, "If this is true, it could be grounds for presidential impeachment due to abuse of authority."

Assemblyman Kim Seung-won stated, "This crime, where the president's abuse of authority allegations are deepening, has a statute of limitations of less than seven years, and the statute of limitations is suspended while the president is in office," adding, "If those present here followed the president's orders, they are accomplices. They probably won't be able to sleep comfortably for the next ten years."

Former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop is explaining the reason for refusing to testify at the legislative hearing on the "Special Prosecutor Appointment Act for the Investigation of Obstruction and Cover-up of the Truth Regarding the Death of a Marine" (Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act) held at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the morning of the 21st. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Assemblyman Park Ji-won said, "Regarding this case, the president and former Minister Lee Jong-seop exchanged 3,677 phone calls and texts among 55 people," adding, "Today's hearing should not be the Chae Sang-byeong hearing but the Yoon Seok-yeol hearing."

Assemblyman Lee Seong-yoon also said, "There is one witness who must appear at today's hearing. Everything was overturned because of that person on August 2 last year," adding, "That person is none other than President Yoon."

Assemblywoman Park Eun-jung of the Innovation Party said, "The suspect and key witness, President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is suspected of abuse of authority due to minimizing charges, did not attend the hearing," expressing concern, "I worry whether a proper investigation of the final puzzle will be conducted."

Earlier, Assemblywoman Park criticized the investigation of Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan by the Ministry of National Defense prosecution team over the 'transfer of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency case,' saying, "Commander Kim has three stars, and Prosecutor General Kim Dong-hyuk has one star. Is that a normal situation?" She also claimed, "This is similar to the situation when Chun Doo-hwan arrested General Jeong Seung-hwa, the Martial Law Commander, during the 1980 military coup."

Meanwhile, former Deputy Minister of National Defense Shin Beom-cheol did not disclose specific details about the phone call with President Yoon on August 2 last year, saying, "It was related to retrieval," but added, "I will not answer according to Article 3, Paragraph 2 of the National Assembly Testimony and Inspection Act."

Former Minister Lee Jong-seop also refused to answer the question, "What was the content of the call from the president?" saying, "I think it is inappropriate to disclose the details of the calls between the Minister of National Defense and the president one by one." However, he admitted to having spoken with the president three times in total.

On the other hand, former National Security Office Defense Secretary Lim Ki-hoon, who received the president's call on August 2, claimed there was no presidential intervention.

Former Public Official Discipline Secretary Lee Si-won of the Presidential Office also continued to refuse to answer.

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