Chaesangbyeong National Assembly Special Committee, Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Already... Opposition Says "Joo Jin-woo Should Be Removed Due to Conflict of Interest"

Statement Battle Over the List of Members of the National Assembly Special Committee

Regarding the national investigation on Chaesangbyeong, the participation of Joo Jin-woo, a member of the People Power Party, in the special committee for the national investigation became a contentious issue. The Democratic Party raised their voices, stating that Joo, who was the Presidential Office Legal Secretary at the time of Chaesangbyeong's death, should be replaced. Joo countered by saying that it does not constitute a conflict of interest.

On the 3rd, members of the Democratic Party's special committee for the national investigation issued a statement saying, "Joo is unsuitable as a member of the Chaesangbyeong national investigation committee" and "We urge him to step down voluntarily."

Regarding Joo's inclusion as a member of the People Power Party's special committee, they also said, "For the fairness and credibility of the national investigation, Joo should voluntarily resign from his position." The Democratic Party's special committee members introduced, "Joo served as the Presidential Office Legal Secretary during last year's investigation into the alleged external pressure related to Chaesangbyeong's death and was responsible for managing the Presidential Office's legal risks. During this process, it was reported in the media that he communicated via phone calls with personnel related to the Chaesangbyeong death case."

On July 19th, citizens are moving in front of the memorial incense altar set up at Cheonggye Plaza, Jung-gu, Seoul, for the first anniversary of the late Chae Sang-byeong. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

They mentioned Joo's phone calls with suspects involved in the alleged external pressure related to the Chaesangbyeong line-of-duty death case, stating, "His activities as a national investigation committee member clearly constitute a conflict of interest, and it cannot be overlooked that this could hinder rather than help uncovering the truth of the case."

On the other hand, Joo stated in a press release, "It is clear that I am completely unrelated to the line-of-duty death case," adding, "I have never even spoken with the Minister of National Defense or other related Ministry of National Defense officials involved in the case, and it is unrelated to my duties." He said, "It is a clear falsehood to claim without any basis that I am involved in the case," and warned, "If these allegations continue, I will take immediate legal action."

Regarding the conflict of interest issue, Joo said, "The Democratic Party is truly serious about this," and added, "Even looking at the Judiciary Committee, Democratic Party members who have been audited by the Board of Audit and Inspection, referred for investigation, or are on trial for the killing of public officials in the West Sea are openly participating. It is undesirable to see Democratic Party members who served as lawyers for Representative Lee being critical of the Ministry of Justice and the courts in the Judiciary Committee."

He also expressed his determination regarding this national investigation, saying, "I will prove through the special committee's activities that this one-sided national investigation by the Democratic Party is nothing more than shielding Representative Lee Jaemyung, unrelated to the livelihood of the people."

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