
Appearing President Choi Sang-mok, middle, speaks throughout a Cupboard assembly on the Authorities Complicated Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
Appearing President Choi Sang-mok exercised his second veto on the opposition-led particular counsel invoice aimed toward investigating President Yoon Suk Yeol over expenses of rebellion, Friday.
He cited „unconstitutional“ provisions within the invoice and the necessity to shield secrets and techniques associated to nationwide safety.
Throughout a Cupboard assembly on the Authorities Complicated Seoul, Choi stated that whereas the invoice had addressed a few of the unconstitutional components within the model he vetoed on Dec. 31, it was nonetheless handed unilaterally by the opposition with out the bipartisan settlement that he had beforehand requested.
„The invoice nonetheless incorporates unconstitutional components and poses potential dangers of leaking safety secrets and techniques,“ he stated.
Choi emphasised that the introduction of a particular counsel ought to be approached with warning.
„As a particular counsel is an distinctive measure, outdoors the precept of separation of powers, it ought to solely be utilized in restricted instances the place the equity and objectivity of an investigation are unsure,“ he stated, explaining that many have voiced that there is no such thing as a want for a separate particular counsel probe proper now as a result of the prosecution’s investigation into the martial legislation case is already progressing.
„The prosecution’s investigation into the case is ongoing, and key figures, together with the sitting president, have been detained and indicted, and court docket proceedings are underway. Given these, it’s troublesome to see the necessity for introducing a particular counsel at this level,“ Choi stated.
He additionally highlighted that the worldwide neighborhood is intently watching Korea’s normalization and restoration processes.
„On this context, I imagine that, reasonably than establishing a brand new investigative physique, it’s extra vital to make sure the truthful and clear willpower of the info by way of the continuing judicial proceedings.“
The principle opposition Democratic Occasion of Korea (DPK) first handed a particular counsel invoice on Dec. 12 to dig into Yoon’s rebellion expenses associated to the martial legislation declaration. That invoice was vetoed on Dec. 31 and dismissed in the course of the Nationwide Meeting’s revote. In response, the DPK revised components of the invoice and reintroduced it on Jan. 17 after negotiations fell by way of with the ruling Folks Energy Occasion (PPP).
The modified invoice excluded Yoon’s treason expenses from the scope of the investigation however continued to focus on allegations associated to the Dec. 3 martial legislation declaration, together with makes an attempt by the president and others to grab management of the Nationwide Meeting and the Nationwide Election Fee, in addition to makes an attempt to arrest and detain sure politicians, civil servants and residents.
Arguing that the invoice nonetheless incorporates unconstitutional components, the PPP requested that the appearing president train his veto energy.
With Choi’s veto, the federal government will ship the invoice again to the Meeting for a revote. The invoice can grow to be legislation if a majority of lawmakers are current and at the least two-thirds of these current vote in favor. In any other case, it is going to be scrapped.
This marks the seventh time Choi has exercised his veto proper since assuming the appearing presidency, following the Meeting’s passage of a invoice to question Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Dec. 27. Moreover the 2 particular counsel payments, Choi has vetoed 5 different payments, together with one associated to an investigation into allegations surrounding first girl Kim Keon Hee.