Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, revealed that he had visited former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is currently incarcerated. Concurrently, on October 20, Representative Na Kyung-won left a National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit after stating she would not pose questions to Chunchon District Court, where her husband is president.
Although Na’s actions may seem like an effort to avoid a conflict of interest, it paradoxically suggests acknowledgment that she should not participate in the committee, potentially leading to further controversy.
During the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit involving various courts, Representative Na declared through a personal statement that she would refrain from questioning the Chunchon Court. She then left, stating she would only return for her allocated question time regarding other institutions.
The previous day, Na defended against potential conflict of interest accusations by citing precedents from other members who had participated in inquiries despite personal connections. However, Representative Jeon Hyun-hee of the Democratic Party argued that Na’s situation was a clear conflict due to her ongoing trial and her husband’s position at the court.
Na’s decision to avoid questioning the Chunchon Court could imply acknowledgment of her conflict of interest. Furthermore, her husband’s role as a related party to the reviewing institutions suggests potential influence on other party members within the legal committee.
Separately, Jang Dong-hyuk’s visit to Yoon Seok-yeol ignited backlash, both from the opposition Democratic Party, which criticized the move as undermining legal accountability, and from members of his own party. Jang’s confirmation via social media of the visit and his call for unity against an alleged threatening regime exacerbated the controversy, drawing accusations of inappropriate conduct during such a sensitive period.
The Democratic Party, alongside Internal and external party critics, expressed severe condemnation over the visitation, considering it a betrayal of public trust amidst ongoing investigations and trials related to charges against Yoon.