Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
Yoon vetoes special probe bill on Marine's death for 2nd time
President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee arrive at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, Monday (local time), ahead of Yoon's attendance at the NATO summit in Washington slated for Wednesday to Thursday. Yonhap
By Anna J. Park
Opposition parties condemn veto
President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed a bill for the second time that would have mandated a special counsel investigation into the military's handling of the death of a Marine, according to the presidential office, Tuesday.
He exercised his veto right through the government's electronic approval system from Honolulu, Hawaii, where he began his visit to the U.S. this week. The endorsement came hours after the Cabinet decided to request the National Assembly to reconsider the bill.
This marks the second time the president has vetoed a bill concerning this issue, with the first occurring in late May. This action makes it the 15th bill vetoed by the president since he took office, and the first since the opening of the 22nd Assembly at the end of May.
The veto also came a day after the police decided not to charge a former Marine division commander who has been at the center of the allegation.
The bill, passed at the opposition-dominated Assembly last week, aims to launch a special counsel probe into the presidential office and the defense ministry's alleged interference in the military's investigation into the death of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died during a search and rescue operation in a flooded area in July 2023.
The original version of the bill concerning this issue was passed during the 21st Assembly in May, but it was vetoed by the president. When sent back to the Assembly for reconsideration, it was rejected and subsequently nullified. However, upon the commencement of the 22nd Assembly in late May, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and other minor opposition parties reintroduced a similar bill, which was passed. This move heightened tensions with the ruling bloc.
Following the second veto, the bill will undergo another vote in the Assembly later this month. However, its chances of passing are slim because it now requires approval from two-thirds of attending lawmakers in a plenary session where more than half of registered lawmakers must be present. This necessitates votes from some members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) in favor of the bill.
Justice Minister Park Sung-jae gives a briefing on decisions made at the Cabinet meeting, including a motion requesting the Assembly to reconsider a bill for a special counsel investigation into the death of a Marine, at the Government Complex Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
The presidential office called on the Assembly to withdraw the bill, saying the police's announcement the previous day disclosed what the truth is and who should be responsible for the death.
"There should be no further instances of politically exploiting the tragic death of a Marine, who died in service to his country," the presidential office stated.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also said at the Cabinet meeting, "The bill mandating the special counsel investigation, fraught with dual layers of unconstitutionality, cannot serve as a solution. I hope that bipartisan dialogue and agreement between the ruling and opposition parties will resume swiftly, bringing an end to the vicious cycle of legislative monopoly by the opposition party and the president's exercise of the veto right."
Rep. Yoon Jong-kun, center, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly, May 24, urging the Assembly to pass a bill mandating a special probe into the death of a Marine. Yonhap
The DPK criticized Yoon's veto, stating it will become the starting point of the downfall of the administration.
"The veto by the president regarding the Marine's duty-related death strikes a chord with all Korean citizens, as every Korean man is obliged to serve in the military. This decision is perceived as a direct confrontation with all Korean youth," DPK floor spokesperson Rep. Yoon Jong-kun said.
The Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP), another opposition party led by former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, also condemned the presidential veto. The party's 12 lawmakers said that if the revote fails, they will propose a bill mandating a special counsel investigation into Yoon's interference and external pressure related to the Marine's death case.