Choi Acting Chief "Must Stay Centered and Act According to Law and Principles"...Request to Ministry of Economy and Finance
"Deliberating on Requesting Reconsideration of the Special Investigation Act on Treason"
Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who also serves as Minister of Strategy and Finance, on the 20th urged the Ministry of Strategy and Finance (MOSF), which is playing four roles amid the impeachment crisis, to "stay centered according to law and principles and do their best."
Acting President Choi presided over an expanded executive meeting attended by about 60 people, including heads of departments and divisions, general managers, and aides of the MOSF, at the Government Complex Sejong in the morning. This was the first expanded executive meeting presided over by Acting President Choi since the acting system was established on the 27th of last month. On the day, he went to his office at the Sejong Government Complex and carried out schedules including the expanded executive meeting and the central and local safety inspection meeting.
Acting President Choi said, "As I am performing the role of acting president, I feel the weight of public office," and added, "Including the role of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), the MOSF is playing four roles, and the help of MOSF employees has been great in carrying this out." He then said, "I will continue to stay centered according to law and principles and do my best."
He then conveyed a message asking the MOSF to stay centered, emphasizing, "To maintain a robotic arm, the engineering force must be strong. Without strength, the robotic arm cannot be maintained. If you try to perform your role according to law and principles, you need strength like a robotic arm, and this strength comes from the capabilities of the employees."
It is reported that Acting President Choi is deeply considering whether to exercise the veto power on the Special Investigation Act on Treason, which was passed in the plenary session led by the opposition party.
An MOSF official said, "I understand that Acting President Choi is listening to various opinions and is deeply considering (whether to approve it)," and regarding whether the Special Investigation Act on Treason will be submitted to tomorrow's Cabinet meeting, said, "I cannot confirm that."
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The deadline for exercising the veto power on the Special Investigation Act on Treason is the 2nd of next month, and there is one regular Cabinet meeting scheduled on the 21st in the meantime. However, since only two days have passed since the bill was sent to the government, it is reported that the re-request for the Special Investigation Act on Treason will not be submitted to tomorrow's Cabinet meeting. If Acting President Choi's deliberation is prolonged, there is also a possibility of holding an extraordinary Cabinet meeting around the Lunar New Year holiday to make a decision.
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