SEOUL, Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung slammed President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday for vetoing a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into the military’s response to a Marine’s death last year.
Yoon exercised his veto power by approving a motion requesting parliamentary reconsideration of the bill, which passed through the opposition-controlled National Assembly earlier this month.
The bill calls for a special counsel to look into allegations Yoon’s office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the Marines’ investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023.
“President Yoon has confessed that he is the culprit,” Lee of the main opposition Democratic Party said during a joint press conference with opposition lawmakers and civic groups, shortly before the motion was approved, as Yoon was widely expected to veto the bill.
Lee was referring to Yoon’s remark during the presidential campaign that “the
person who refuses a special counsel probe is the culprit.”
Lee also warned that the people could turn their back on the Yoon administration anytime and vowed to pass the special counsel bill again to demand accountability from the administration.
Source: Yonhap News Agency