Presidential Veto Again on Special Investigation Law for Internal Rebellion... Opposition: "Hold Choi Sang-mok Accountable" · Ruling Party: "Correct Decision"

Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, on the 31st, faced pressure from the opposition, who led the National Assembly in passing the second 'Special Investigation Act on Treason,' regarding his exercise of the veto power (reconsideration request). The opposition said, "He has admitted to being a force involved in or sympathizing with treason. We will hold him appropriately accountable." On the other hand, the ruling party, which has argued that the Special Investigation Act on Treason is unconstitutional, defended the decision as "a correct decision to uphold the rule of law."

No Jong-myeon, the floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, warned in a written briefing in the afternoon, "(Acting Prime Minister Choi) may have rejected the special investigation to hide his own complicity and negligence, but today's choice clearly revealed his true identity. The Democratic Party will hold him appropriately accountable as already warned."

Earlier, Acting Prime Minister Choi presided over the regular Cabinet meeting at the Government Seoul Office and said, "At this point, where we must observe the progress of judicial procedures, many opinions were that it is difficult to determine the necessity of introducing a separate special prosecutor." He added, "Although some improvements were made compared to the previous special investigation bill, there are still unconstitutional elements in the content, and concerns about the potential leakage of state secrets have been raised, which could negatively affect the constitutional order and national interests," thereby exercising his veto power over the Special Investigation Act on Treason.

Yonhap News

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Regarding the reasons for Acting Prime Minister Choi's veto, the ruling party argued that the amendments they requested were reflected in the second special investigation bill, and that the opposition simply did not accept it, asserting that there are no defects in the second special investigation bill. Floor spokesperson No pointed out, "We waited and waited for the ruling party, which only dragged its feet claiming it would propose its own special investigation bill. We patiently accepted and effectively reflected the ruling party's own special investigation bill, which clearly intended to weaken the power of the special investigation."

He continued, "This Special Investigation Act on Treason includes a third-party recommendation method and incorporates the proposal presented by the Court Administration Office, fundamentally blocking the risk of state secret leakage. There should have been no issue of unconstitutionality or state secret leakage from the start," adding, "Nevertheless, the ruling party walked away from the negotiation table. Bipartisan agreement cannot be a reason to reject the bill."

The floor spokesperson group of the National Innovation Party held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the same day, stating, "Under the pretext of national stability, the Acting President is not acting as the Acting President but as Yoon Seok-yeol's 'acting leader of treason' who is his mirror." They emphasized, "The National Innovation Party urges the immediate resignation of Acting Prime Minister Choi, and if he refuses, we will actively pursue impeachment."

Jung Hye-kyung, floor spokesperson for the Progressive Party, also joined, saying, "Acting Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok has been identified as a key participant in treason," and "We strongly urge the opposition to unite and immediately push for the impeachment of Choi Sang-mok."

The People Power Party defended Acting Prime Minister Choi's exercise of veto power, calling it "a responsible judgment to uphold the rule of law and constitutional order and a decision to block the Democratic Party's political objectives."

Kim Dae-sik, senior floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a commentary, "This Special Investigation Act on Treason still contains problems that have been pointed out several times. The Democratic Party claims to have partially amended toxic provisions, but the scope of investigation remains vague, and political neutrality has not been secured, yet it was forcibly passed. It can only be seen as an attempt to degrade the judicial system of the Republic of Korea into a tool for a specific political faction."

Kim added, "Currently, the prosecution and courts are already investigating and judging the treason case, and introducing another special prosecutor causes duplication of legal procedures and judicial confusion. The bill's investigation scope includes foreign affairs and security policies, posing a serious threat to national security. Especially, making military secrets subject to special investigation is a dangerous measure that shakes the national security system."

He further explained, "During the Democratic Party-led bill process, national consensus and bipartisan cooperation were thoroughly excluded. Such unilateral handling only intensifies political strife and undermines public trust."

Kim Yong-min, Chief Policy Secretary of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Noh Jong-myeon, the party's floor spokesperson, are submitting the 'Special Prosecutor Investigation Request for Acts of Rebellion' at the National Assembly's Legislative Affairs Office on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

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