DPK floor leader pledges to launch special counsel probe into martial law plan

Rep. Lee In-young, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a parliamentary speech at the National Assembly, Monday. Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

Rep. Lee In-young, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) pledged Monday to push for the launch of a special counsel investigation to look into the former administration's alleged move to enforce martial law to crack down on protestors opposing the Park Geun-hye administration, and allegations that Hwang Kyo-ahn, chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) was involved in the scheme.

“The DPK will use every possible measure to make a historical judgment about [the alleged martial law plan] by holding a parliamentary hearing at the National Defense Committee or launching a special counsel investigation,” Lee said during a parliamentary speech at the National Assembly, Monday.

Stressing that it will be a threat to democracy if the martial law plan is real, Lee also urged the government to find facts on the document related to the plan released by a human rights organization recently.

Lee's remarks came after the Military Human Rights Centre of Korea, a civic organization based in Seoul, made the allegation against Hwang on Oct. 21. The group alleged Hwang ― then Prime Minister and chair of the National Security Council (NSC) ― was involved in the plan to mobilize troops against protesters, based on a document dated February 2017.

The NGO says the document shows the government organizations led by the NSC made a consensus on the plan. The NGO also accused Yoon Seok-yeol, incumbent prosecutor general, of being involved in the martial law plan by serving as a team leader for its investigation and covering up the case. Hwang and Yoon have denied the allegations.

It appears that the DPK is stepping up political offensives against the LKP in a move to secure political leverage to seek prosecution reform amid the controversy surrounding former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's corruption allegations.

Lee also pledged to seek the reform of the prosecution and electoral reform by passing the fast-tracked bills with opposition parties such as the Barunmirae Party, the Justice Party and the Party for Democracy and Peace and a temporary group of lawmakers working on forming a new alternative party, criticizing the LKP for boycotting the move.

The Assembly is planning to hold a plenary session on Thursday and pass the bills, which the LKP opposes.

Lee also criticized the LKP for allegedly sabotaging the legislation activities for the country's economy including the passage of bills on tackling Japan's trade restriction against Korea and supplementary budget

Lee, however, didn't mention anything about Cho, which has been a contentious issue for months.

Rep. Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the LKP, expressed disappointment with Lee's speech, saying “It wasn't appropriate for the ruling party to blame the opposition party for the difficult economic and security situation.”