Partisan tension flares ahead of expected veto of special probe into Marine's death

Partisan tensions are intensifying ahead of an expected veto by President Yoon Suk Yeol of a special probe into the death of a young Marine during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.

Officials from several parties, including the Democratic Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Justice Party, held a moment of silence during a joint press conference in front of the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul, on Monday, urging acceptance of a special prosecution probe into a young Marine's death. [YONHAP]

Partisan tensions are intensifying ahead of an expected veto by President Yoon Suk Yeol of a special probe into the death of a young Marine during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.

Leaders from seven parties, including the majority Democratic Party (DP), the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Justice Party, held a joint press conference in front of the presidential office in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Monday. They urged Yoon to accept the special prosecution bill to probe into allegations of military interference during the investigation of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geun's death.

The DP and others have alleged that the young Marine's death, which occurred during a search and rescue mission for victims of flooding last July, resulted from professional negligence rather than a simple accident.

The special prosecution bill was railroaded by the DP in the National Assembly on May 2.

The DP emphasized that the special prosecution reflects the public’s will as expressed in the recent general election in April, in which the president's People Power Party (PPP) was defeated in a landslide. They called on President Yoon to demonstrate his commitment to change by accepting the act.

"President Yoon Suk Yeol should not repeatedly veto the special prosecution act on Marine Cpl. Chae," DP leader Lee Jae-myung said during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on Monday.

"He should immediately promulgate the act and use it as a starting point to fundamentally shift his administration’s policies," Lee added. "The public's patience should not be tested further."

Yoon signaled his intention to veto the act, expressing a preference for an "investigation first, special prosecution later" approach, during a rare press conference on May 9 marking his second year in office.

In response, the seven opposition parties are considering holding outdoor rallies with civic groups this weekend if the veto is exercised.

They also plan to reconvene on May 28 to push for a re-vote on the special prosecution bill. The re-vote, however, requires approval from at least two-thirds of the attending members, making it more challenging.

The PPP has expressed support for President Yoon Suk Yeol's expected veto.

PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho emphasized that a special investigation should be a "supplementary and exceptional measure" when the fairness and objectivity of the existing investigations are in doubt, arguing that both the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) are already investigating the case.

"A special prosecution should be pursued through bipartisan agreement," he said during an emergency response committee meeting on Monday. "There is no precedent for unilaterally pushing through a special prosecution bill without such an agreement."

Lee Jae-myung, left, leader of the Democratic Party, and Hwang Woo-yea, interim leader of the People Power Party, head to their seats after exchanging greetings at the National Assembly for their first meeting in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Monday. [NEWS1]

The PPP has been working to prevent defections in preparation for a potential re-vote. They recently notified lawmakers to refrain from overseas trips between May 23 and 28 to ensure their attendance at the National Assembly session, when a re-vote is likely if President Yoon vetoes the act.

The DP has announced that if the special prosecution bill fails to pass the re-vote, it will be reintroduced as the first bill in the 22nd National Assembly.

Later Monday, Hwang Woo-yea, the new interim leader of the PPP, and DP leader Lee met officially for the first time at the National Assembly, while discussions on the special prosecution bill were reportedly postponed.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]