South Korea's Cabinet demands reconsideration of bill to investigate President Yoon

The South Korean Cabinet has called for the National Assembly to reconsider a bill proposed by the opposition, which seeks to appoint a special counsel to investigate President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection with a failed martial law attempt last month.

The motion, demanding reconsideration, was approved during a Cabinet meeting chaired by acting President Choi Sang-mok on January 31, Caliber.Az reports per Korean media.

Choi emphasized that there is insufficient evidence to justify the appointment of a special counsel, as judicial proceedings against Yoon are already ongoing. Yoon has been arrested and indicted on charges of insurrection, and Choi noted that many have questioned the need for a separate investigation when the matter is already being addressed through the legal system.

Additionally, Choi raised concerns about potential constitutional issues in the bill and warned of the risk of disclosing state secrets. The revised bill, which was passed by the opposition-controlled National Assembly on January 17, omits allegations of "treason" that were previously included in a version of the bill rejected by Choi last month.

The opposition Democratic Party (DP) introduced the bill, which passed with the support of 192 out of 300 parliamentary seats. However, the ruling People Power Party strongly opposed the bill, arguing that it was overly broad. The ruling party has announced plans to propose its own version of the bill, excluding the insurrection charges against President Yoon.

This marks the seventh time since assuming interim leadership that acting President Choi has exercised his veto power. Typically, such motions are approved during Cabinet meetings, sent to the president for endorsement, and then returned to the National Assembly for a revote.

Meanwhile, prosecutors have indicted and detained Yoon on charges of leading an insurrection after receiving the case from the Corruption Investigation Office for high-ranking officials. The office, however, lacks the legal authority to indict a sitting president. Yoon is accused of conspiring with former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to incite an insurrection by declaring an unconstitutional state of emergency, despite the absence of any national crisis.

This controversy has added to Yoon's ongoing impeachment trial, making him the first sitting president in South Korea's history to be indicted while in detention.

By Vafa Guliyeva