(LEAD) DP floor leader denounces first lady’s investigation as attempt to give unfair impunity


The floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) urged President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday to endorse a bill to investigate the first lady and the military’s response to a Marine’s death last year.

Rep. Park Chan-dae made the remarks during his address at the National Assembly, saying that it is “only fair and common sense to be punished if you do something wrong, even if you have power.”

“It is unfair to get impunity and privileged treatment while being questioned just because they are the spouse of the president,” Park said.

First lady Kim Keon Hee has been accused of involvement in manipulating the stock prices of Deutsch Motors Inc., a BMW car dealer in South Korea, between 2009 and 2012. She has denied the allegations.

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, delivers a speech during a plenary session at the National Assembly on Sept. 4, 2024. (Yonhap)

Park called on Yoon to endorse another opposition-led bill that calls for a special counsel to look in
to allegations that the presidential office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the Marines’ investigation into Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023.

Park also stressed that Kim Hyoung-suk, the new director of the Independence Hall of Korea, and Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo should be immediately dismissed, condemning them as “anti-national” officials denying Korea’s identity.

Both figures recently came under fire for their previous remarks justifying Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule.

On South Korea-Japan ties, Park criticized Seoul’s “submissive” diplomacy toward Japan.

“Despite Japan’s blatant claims over the easternmost islets of Dokdo and their ongoing historical distortions, our government is continuing to push forward for an alliance with Japan,” he said.

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, gets a standing ovation from opposition lawmakers after delivering a speech during a plenary se
ssion at the National Assembly on Sept. 4, 2024. (Yonhap)

Noting the recent protracted walkout by trainee doctors, Park strongly criticized Yoon and called on the government to retract its plan on increasing the medical school quota.

He proposed forming an emergency council among the rival parties, the government and the medical community to work together to reach a compromise amid the “desperate situation where the emergency medical system is virtually collapsing.”

Park also called for a revision to the Constitution to change the current single five-year presidential term to a maximum of two successive four-year terms.

Source: Yonhap News Agency