Park Jumin delivers a letter to GNP lawmakers, appealing for “courage” GNP focuses on cracking down on defectors from special probe bill,
Participants holding pickets at the joint press conference between opposition parties and civic groups to denounce the re-voting demand for the Cha Sang-bum special probe bill in front of the main building of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 21st. 2024.5.21/News1 ⓒ News1 Photo by Song Wonyoung,
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, “(Seoul=News1) Park Gibum Kim Kyungmin = As the standoff between the ruling and opposition parties intensifies ahead of the re-vote on the ‘Marine Corps special investigation bill’ returned to the National Assembly through President Yoon Suk-yeol’s veto rights exercise, the Democratic Party has sent a letter to ruling party lawmakers appealing for their ‘approval votes’ with the letter from a surviving Marine’s mother, while the People Power Party is focusing on cracking down on defectors.”,
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, ‘According to the political circles on the 23rd, Park Jumin of the Democratic Party recently sent a letter to ruling party lawmakers requesting approval votes in the re-voting of the special probe bill. Park, as the last chief negotiator for the Democratic Party in the 21st National Assembly, negotiated with the ruling party on the special probe bill.’,
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, ‘In the letter, Park emphasized the limitations of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) and the widespread public support for the special probe bill, saying, “The vote will be conducted anonymously. Please vote according to your conscience for the sake of the people. I earnestly ask you to be courageous.”.’,
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, ‘The letter also attached a letter from the mother of a surviving Marine who participated in disaster relief operations with the late Corporal Chae Soo-geun. The letter was written before President Yoon Suk-yeol exercised his veto rights and was previously revealed during a press conference urging the re-vote on the Cha Sang-bum special investigation.’,
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, ‘In the letter, the mother conveyed her difficult feelings, saying, “It feels like passing through a long and dark tunnel. Our sons only need apologies and comfort… The children who had done nothing wrong, the children who returned from the brink of life and death are struggling with guilt.”‘,
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, ‘She continued, “During the recovery work from the flood, my son said he only received a shovel and boots. When he asked if they would give him a life jacket if he went into the water, I almost called the battalion commander, but I was worried that my son would be ridiculed for having an overprotective mother. I regret it.”‘,
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, ‘Furthermore, the mother expressed her disappointment, saying, “I visited the prosecution office and the National Assembly, places I thought I would never step foot in. The only thing I hoped for was for the high-ranking officials to sincerely apologize, sympathize, and console the sons who sacrificed their youth to protect the country. However, South Korea did not do that.”‘,
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, ‘In particular, she questioned former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Im Seong-geun, stating, “When I accused you, you submitted a statement to the military court saying, ‘The activities of surviving Marines and their mothers are tantamount to the attacks of North Korea’s father-in-law.’ Can’t you show a responsible attitude to the soldiers to whom you entrusted your lives and their families?’,
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, ‘She said, “The police and the CIO say that it is not too late to conduct a special probe after conducting a good investigation. We do not think so.” and emphasized, “We do not think that the South Korean investigative agencies were unable to find a single cause of the accident in 10 months. Since the President, as a significant power, is involved, everyone is just cautious and there is no progress in the investigation. That’s why we need a special probe.”‘,
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, ‘She fervently appealed, “I sincerely ask. Regardless of the political party affiliation, please think only about what is right, what is needed. Please think about why the majority of the people are talking about the necessity of the special probe bill. Please make sure to pass the special probe bill in the re-vote.”‘,
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Members of the Marine Corps Reserve Association watch the passage of the ‘Cha Sang-bum Special Investigation Act’ at the 1st plenary session of the 414th National Assembly (Extraordinary Session) in Yeouido, Seoul on the 2nd. 2024.5.2/News1 ⓒ News1 Photo by Song Wonyoung,
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, ‘In response to such a letter, the ruling party showed discomfort. Sung Il-jong, chairman of the People Power Party’s policy committee, said in an interview on BBS Radio’s “Morning Journal” on the same day regarding Park’s sending of the letter, “It’s a very petty act,” and said, “Sending a letter after presenting a bill that lacks fairness is not in line with common sense.”‘,
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, ‘The day before, Choo Gyeong-ho, the chief delegate, said, “I haven’t received the letter yet. It’s not appropriate to mention individual lawmakers’ actions one by one,” but added, “It’s better to refrain from making remarks that cause tensions and conflicts within the opposing party.”‘,
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, ‘Meanwhile, the re-vote on the Cha Sang-bum special probe bill is scheduled to take place at the National Assembly plenary session on the 28th. In order to pass the re-vote, more than half of the attending lawmakers and two-thirds of the participating lawmakers must agree. Assuming that all 295 members of the 21st National Assembly except the imprisoned Yoon Gwan-seok, an independent member, attend the plenary session, it will require the approval of at least 197 members.’,
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, ‘If the People Power Party can secure at least 17 approval votes, the Cha Sang-bum special probe bill can be re-processed. Currently, within the ruling party, apart from Kim Ung, who expressed approval, lawmakers such as Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoo Yi-dong are also expressing supportive opinions.’,