Seoul, January 31 (IANS) – In a significant political development, South Korea’s Cabinet has called on the National Assembly to reconsider an opposition-proposed bill that would establish a special counsel probe into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s alleged involvement in a failed martial law attempt last month.
The motion to reject the bill was passed during a Cabinet meeting led by Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who emphasized that there is insufficient grounds to appoint a special counsel. He pointed out that President Yoon is already under investigation in relation to charges of insurrection and is currently facing judicial proceedings, making a separate inquiry unnecessary. Choi further noted that the bill may have unconstitutional implications and could result in the unauthorized disclosure of state secrets.
The revised bill, initially proposed by the Democratic Party (DP) and passed by the opposition-controlled parliament on January 17, seeks to initiate an independent investigation into Yoon’s conduct. However, the legislation does not include allegations of “treason,” which were part of a previous version of the bill that was rejected by the acting president last month. The DP holds a dominant position in the 300-member National Assembly, with 192 seats, and has been pressing for an investigation into Yoon’s actions during a controversial period in December.
This motion marks the seventh time Acting President Choi has exercised his veto power since taking interim leadership last month. Under South Korea’s political system, such motions are typically approved by the Cabinet and then sent to the president for endorsement before being returned to the legislature for a possible revote.
The DP’s bill targets allegations that President Yoon conspired with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to illegally declare a state of emergency, despite the absence of any evidence of war or national crisis. Yoon has been indicted on charges of insurrection related to these actions and is facing detention, making him the first sitting president in South Korean history to face such charges.
While the opposition parties have criticized the ruling People Power Party for opposing the investigation, the government argues that the scope of the DP’s bill is too broad and risks undermining national security. In response, the ruling party has vowed to propose a more narrowly tailored version of the bill, one that would not include insurrection charges against the president.
As judicial processes continue, President Yoon is also facing an impeachment trial, further complicating the political landscape. His legal troubles have cast a shadow over his administration and have sparked intense political debate in South Korea.
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