South Korea: Cabinet Requests Reevaluation of Bill for Special Counsel Investigation into President Yoon
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Synopsis
The South Korean Cabinet has called for the National Assembly to reevaluate a bill seeking a special counsel investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol regarding his failed attempt at martial law. The acting president emphasized the lack of substantial justification for such an inquiry given ongoing judicial proceedings.
Key Takeaways
- The South Korean Cabinet demands a reexamination of a bill for a special counsel investigation.
- Acting President Choi Sang-mok argues there is no probable cause for the inquiry.
- The bill was passed by the opposition-controlled parliament despite ruling party dissent.
- Yoon faces insurrection charges and is undergoing an impeachment trial.
- This marks the acting president's seventh use of veto power.
Seoul, Jan 31 (NationPress) The South Korean Cabinet on Friday urged the National Assembly to reassess an Opposition-backed bill proposing a special counsel investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol regarding his unsuccessful martial law initiative from the previous month.
The Cabinet's motion for reconsideration was sanctioned during a meeting led by acting President Choi Sang-mok, who asserted that there is no substantial basis for appointing a special counsel, given that Yoon has already been arrested and indicted on insurrection charges.
"Currently, with judicial proceedings still in progress, many believe it is challenging to rationalize the need for an additional special counsel," Choi stated.
He also highlighted that the proposed legislation includes components that could be unconstitutional and raise issues concerning the potential revelation of state secrets.
The revised bill, introduced by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), was approved by the opposition-dominated parliament on January 17, despite unanimous resistance from lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party. The opposition coalition currently controls the 300-member parliament with 192 seats.
This marks the seventh occasion in which the acting president has exercised his veto power since taking on interim leadership last month, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Typically, such motions are endorsed during Cabinet meetings presided over by the prime minister and forwarded to the president for approval before being sent back to the National Assembly for a revote.
The latest bill excludes allegations that Yoon has committed 'treason' by inciting a deliberate conflict with North Korea, which were previously included in a bill rejected by Choi last month.
The ruling party has criticized the DP's proposed legislation as being “excessively broad” and indicated it would present its own version that does not involve insurrection charges against Yoon.
On Sunday, prosecutors indicted and detained Yoon on charges of leading an insurrection after the case was transferred from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, which lacks legal authority to indict a sitting president.
Yoon is accused of conspiring with former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to incite an insurrection by declaring an unconstitutional and illegal state of emergency, despite the absence of any indications of war, armed conflict, or a similar national crisis.
Yoon, who is also undergoing an impeachment trial, has become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be indicted while in detention.
