Policy considering public opinion until final decision
Considering a ‘third option’ instead of opposing logic
,
President Yoon Seok-yeol speaks at the 2nd term performance reporting meeting of the National Unity Committee held under the theme of ‘National Unity, Walking to the Future’ at the presidential office in Yongsan on the 13th. Reporter Kim Ji-hoon
,
‘President Yoon Seok-yeol plans to consider various factors including opinions and trends until the final decision regarding exercising his veto power (demand for reconsideration) concerning the ‘Cha Sa-sang Special Prosecutor Law’ before making a decision. It was reported on the 13th that the demand for reconsideration regarding the Cha Sa-sang Special Prosecutor Law will not be brought up at the Cabinet meeting on the 14th, but there is a high possibility that it will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting on the 21st within the deadline for President Yoon’s veto power exercise.’
The presidential office and the government have conducted a legal review of the Cha Sa-sang Special Prosecutor Law and identified issues that should be addressed before sending the bill back to the National Assembly. It was reported that regarding the core of the Cha Sa-sang Special Prosecutor Law, the suspicion of ‘investigation pressure,’ it was indicated that the investigation by the special prosecutor is not established because the Marine Corps Investigative Unit does not have jurisdiction over the matter. An official from the ruling party stated, “The Cha Sa-sang case was close to being the first case to be determined by a civilian investigative agency instead of the military judicial system, according to the amendment to the Military Court Law,” and said, “Regarding this contentious issue, it would be appropriate to first wait for the decision of the ongoing investigative agency.”
The presidential office and the government have reportedly viewed that there are formal issues with the Cha Sa-sang Special Prosecutor Law, which was forcibly processed by the opposition party, and are prioritizing the veto power exercise. It was pointed out that the special prosecutor is an exceptional measure that determines the investigative and indictment rights within the administrative domain of the executive branch by the legislative branch, and at least consensus between the ruling and opposition parties is required to ensure democratic legitimacy. It was also reported that limiting the recommendation power for special prosecutors only to the opposition party is also a problematic aspect.
However, there is speculation that President Yoon Seok-yeol may consider a ‘third option’ rather than emphasizing legal principles or opposing arguments and exercising his veto power. Taking into account the dominant public opinion demanding a special investigation, he may propose to first review the results of the investigation by the High-Ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Bureau (HRCIB) and the police before proceeding with discussions.
President Yoon stated at the press conference marking his second anniversary in office on the 9th, “If it is not convincing, then I will be the first to advocate for a special investigation.” An official from the presidential office mentioned, “It doesn’t seem very likely that he will immediately veto at the next Cabinet meeting.”