In the Press
Assembly speaker urges rival parties to agree on PPP-proposed special counsel probe into Marine's death
- Aug 22, 2024
- 153
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik urged the ruling and opposition parties Wednesday to reach a compromise on a proposal that calls for a "third party" to appoint a special counsel to investigate the military's response to a Marine's death.
Woo made the remark during a press conference at the National Assembly, saying the "national consensus" demands that the parliament step up its role in uncovering the truth behind the death of the Marine.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has attempted to pass two successive bills calling for the appointment of a special counsel to look into allegations the presidential office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the military's investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae, who was killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023.
Both bills were passed by the opposition-controlled National Assembly but vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol and then scrapped.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) has opposed the bill, citing the need to first see the results of an ongoing investigation by the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials.
Declaring his bid for the PPP chief in June, leader Han Dong-hoon pledged to introduce a new bill if elected that mandates an investigation led by a special counsel chosen by a "third party," such as the Supreme Court chief justice, not by the DP, the PPP or the president.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
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[Photo] National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on Aug. 21, 2024. (Yonhap)
