Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Rival parties remain at odds ahead of leaders' meeting
Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae, center, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Han steps back from disclosing meeting with Lee
Rival parties are still unable to reach an agreement over a special counsel probe bill into the death of a young Marine last year ahead of a contentious meeting, according to political watchers, Monday.
A highly anticipated face-to-face meeting between ruling People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Han Dong-hoon and main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung was scheduled for last Sunday, but it was postponed after Lee tested positive for COVID-19.
The two leaders have expressed their hope to end the political strife and focus on livelihood-related issues. Lee suggested discussing a bill on a special counsel investigation that targets the government’s alleged interference in the military’s investigation into the death of a Marine during a flood rescue operation last year, a cash handout initiative plan and the reactivation of the district party system. Han, on the other hand, called on abolishing the financial investment income tax as the top priority to discuss during the planned meeting with Lee.
As the two parties are working out a specific agenda, the DPK pressured Han to officially propose a "third-party recommendation proposal for the special investigation” adding that it is open to accepting the method.
In June, Han had promised during the PPP’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. The presidential office and the defense ministry have been accused of inappropriately interfering in the military’s investigation into the death.
“It’s been over a month since Han took office as the new chief of the ruling party, so excuses that there was not enough time or he failed to secure endorsement from at least 10 PPP lawmakers do not make sense,” DPK floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae said during a Supreme Council meeting, Monday. “Unless he is just a figurehead, Han should propose the third-party recommendation method by today.”
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party, attends the party's Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
However, Han stressed the need for a cautious approach, calling for first seeing the results of the ongoing investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).
“I think the DPK is trying to divide us by setting a time limit to respond to their request. If they are in such a hurry, they should go ahead and propose a special prosecutor bill allowing the chief justice of the Supreme Court to initiate a special investigation into the death of the Marine,” Han said during a press conference, Monday.
Han voiced support for the PPP’s general idea that “a special counsel investigation is conducted after the investigations by the police and CIO are done.”
After facing a backlash, the PPP chief also took a step back from demanding the DPK accept his offer of livestreaming the meeting with Lee.
“Although I still believe that it would be better to disclose the meeting to the public, I won’t insist on livestreaming the meeting as a precondition for talks,” Han said.
The two leaders will likely reschedule the meeting after Lee returns to work later this week. Meanwhile, the DPK’s decision to investigate the removal of public installations depicting Dokdo will likely weigh on the meeting too.
Recently, several Dokdo installations were removed from subway stations and the War Memorial of Korea. The government explained that they were removed temporarily for renewal, but the opposition alleges the move is intentionally aimed at erasing Dokdo from the public consciousness. The PPP accused the DPK of trying to politicize the removal of Dokdo models and label it as a pro-Japanese act.
The presidential office dismissed the DPK's claim as "groundless."
"Dokdo is our territory historically, geographically and under international law," presidential spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon said in a press briefing.