DPK accuses Yoon of abusing veto power
Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo, center, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), is surrounded by opposition lawmakers at a protest rally against President Yoon Suk Yeol's vetoing of two special probe proposals at the National Assembly in Seoul, Jan. 5. Yonhap
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Friday accused President Yoon Suk Yeol of abusing his presidential veto power to cover up his family's irregularities after Yoon vetoed two opposition-led investigation proposals, including one involving the first lady.
The DPK's floor leader, Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo, made the remarks after Yoon endorsed a motion demanding the National Assembly reconsider two special investigation bills that the main opposition railroaded through the parliament last week.
"Yoon will be recorded in history as the first president to abuse his veto rights to shield his family's irregularities," Hong said in a leadership meeting. "The president has chosen to fight against the people to protect his family."
Hong warned Yoon and the ruling People Power Party will face judgment and resistance from the people, as no one, including the presidential family, is above the law.
First lady Kim has been accused of involvement in manipulating the stock prices of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, between 2009 and 2012. She has denied the allegations.
The other special probe proposal is about allegations that six prominent people of the so-called 5 billion club were promised 5 billion won ($3.8 million) each from an asset management firm involved in a corruption-ridden development project in the Daejang-dong district in Seongnam, south of Seoul.
Yoon exercised his veto power on Friday, with the prime minister saying in a Cabinet meeting the two bills could interfere with people's voting rights and cause confusion in national affairs.
Lawmakers from the DPK and other minor opposition parties held a protest rally in front of the main building of the National Assembly after Yoon rejected the bills. (Yonhap)