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.
Rival parties urged to agree on special counsel probe into Marine's death
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik speaks during a press conference held at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
By Anna J. Park
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik urged rival parties, Wednesday, to reach a consensus on the contentious issue of whether to conduct a special investigation into the death of a fallen Marine. He recommended adopting the approach suggested by Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP).
During a press conference at the National Assembly, the parliamentary speaker called on the parties to agree on the "third-party recommendation proposal for special investigation," which is what the PPP leader suggested during the ruling party's leadership campaign in June.
“There is a national consensus that the National Assembly should intervene to investigate the fallen Marine’s case and uncover the truth," the speaker said during the press conference.
“Given the current partisan standoff, it is essential for the ruling and opposition parties to reach an agreement and find a solution to move the investigation forward,” Woo added, pointing out that the current situation shows that the ruling and opposition parties are much closer to reaching a consensus than before.
“If both parties make small concessions, it may open a path forward,” he stressed.
The speaker emphasized that the third-party recommendation method for selecting the special prosecutor was proposed by the PPP leader himself, and that the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has expressed its willingness to support it.
Back in June, Han had promised during the ruling conservative party's leadership race that he would propose a special prosecutor bill allowing third parties, such as the chief justice of the Supreme Court, to initiate a special prosecution to investigate the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023. The presidential office and the defense ministry have been accused of inappropriately interfering in the Marines' investigation into the death.
Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the main opposition DPK, said last Friday that the party is open to accepting the third-party recommendation method proposed by the PPP leader.
“If we can resolve the injustice surrounding the deceased Marine by uncovering the truth about external pressures, the Democratic Party is open to accepting the third-party recommendation proposal suggested by Han,” the DPK floor leader said.
Meanwhile, when asked if he plans to issue a separate mediation proposal on the matter, Woo responded, “With the new leadership of both parties scheduled to meet this Sunday, it is best to wait and see.”
Woo, a five-term lawmaker from the DPK, was elected National Assembly Speaker in early June. Since then, Rep. Woo has left the main opposition party in accordance with the National Assembly Act to serve as an independent. He will hold the position of chairman until May 2026.