한동훈 국민의힘 신임 대표가 24일 오전 서울 여의도 국회의사당으로 출근하고 있다. 뉴스1
한동훈, the newly elected leader of the People Power Party, said on the 24th, during the party convention period, regarding the third-party recommendation proposal for a special prosecutor on the Chae Sang-bong special prosecutor bill, “There hasn’t been a change in stance,” and added, “We will explain through the democratic process that the party holds.”
On his way to work in the National Assembly after visiting the National Cemetery in Seoul on the 24th, the leader said, “We are a party that upholds democratic procedures, and there has been no change in my intention regarding the third-party recommendation bill.” He also added, “By proposing this (third-party recommendation bill), we can dispel the misunderstanding that our party is passive about revealing the truth that the People Power Party could have received from the people.”
The leader further questioned, “The former leader of the Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, simply rejected my proposal. I would like to ask why. Why should a special investigation chosen by the Democratic Party be carried out to clarify the truth? Isn’t it more appropriate for a third party to do so?” He criticized, “Refusing this shows that the issue of a special prosecutor that the Democratic Party and the former leader talk about is not for clarifying the truth and righting wrongs but for the strategic interests of the Democratic Party.”
Regarding the situation where the party’s stance of “opposing the third-party special prosecutor bill” was decided at the lawmakers’ general meeting, the leader answered, “I don’t think there is a need to decide in advance in politics and my position has not changed.”
On the issue of the Chae Sang-bong special prosecutor bill, the leader commented, “It is not necessary to set a deadline for gathering public opinion.” He emphasized, “I expressed a persuasive opinion and will explain well how this process can benefit and how we can approach the people.”
Regarding the Democratic Party opening the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee for the “Han Dong-hoon, Kim Geon-hee dual special prosecutor” policy, the leader said, “Is it really democratic to push through something that is not a basic principle just because you have a majority of seats? No. South Korea has systems and national standards to prevent arbitrary coercions.”
In response to demands from the Democratic Party to adopt support for the Chae Sang-bong special prosecutor bill as a party policy, the leader said, “It seems like they are very interested in others’ party policies,” and added, “We are a party that upholds democratic procedures, and my intention remains unchanged.”
On the morning of the 24th, at the full committee meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly, Yoo Sang-beom, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, is protesting against the procedure with Chairman Jeong Chung-rae. Yonhap News
The National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a full committee meeting on this day, presenting the “Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act” (a bill for appointing a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of misconduct by Han Dong-hoon, former Minister of Justice, and during his tenure) and the “Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act” (a bill for appointing a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of stock manipulation by Kim Geon-hee, the spouse of President Yoon Suk-yeol) as agenda items and deciding to hold future confirmation hearings and public hearings. The People Power Party raised objections to the agenda item presentation itself, citing the absence of consultation procedures among parliamentary parties, but their objections were not accepted.
Regarding the dinner scheduled for the evening with President Yoon Suk-yeol, the leader said, “I have been talking all month about creating good politics for the people and the need for the party and the government to synergize and find the right answer through rational debates when there are disagreements.”
Regarding the personnel issues related to resolving internal conflicts within the party, the leader said, “I will calmly and carefully consider each one,” and added, “In the end, I aim to work with good people to create a party that can better serve the people, listen and persuade well, and move toward the future.”