Special Prosecutor to Summon Choo Kyung-ho on 30th Over Alleged Obstruction of Martial Law Lift Vote
Special Prosecutor to Summon Former Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho on 30th Over Alleged Obstruction of Martial Law Lift Vote
The special prosecutor's team, led by Cho Eun-seok, announced that it will summon former People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho as a suspect on October 30 for questioning. This summons is part of an investigation into allegations that Choo Kyung-ho obstructed the National Assembly's resolution to lift martial law immediately after its declaration on December 3, 2024. The special prosecutor plans to question Choo in detail about the situation at the time, focusing particularly on the specific circumstances surrounding the alleged attempt to obstruct the vote and whether there was any communication with the People Power Party leadership at the time. This summons and investigation are expected to be a crucial turning point in determining the direction of the special prosecutor's investigation. While Choo is reportedly denying all charges, the special prosecutor intends to conduct a thorough investigation based on secured evidence and related testimonies. This case holds significant meaning in South Korea's constitutional history, and the outcome of the special prosecutor's investigation is expected to have considerable repercussions in the political arena. The public anticipates a clear revelation of the truth through this investigation, and the special prosecutor is expected to dedicate all its capabilities to meet these public expectations.
According to the special prosecutor, Choo Kyung-ho is suspected of causing confusion by abruptly changing the location of an emergency lawmakers' meeting from the National Assembly to the party headquarters in Yeouido immediately after the declaration of martial law. The special prosecutor alleges that this delayed the entry of People Power Party lawmakers into the National Assembly, ultimately preventing a significant number of them from attending the vote on the resolution demanding the lifting of martial law. In fact, 90 out of 108 People Power Party lawmakers did not attend the vote, and the resolution was passed with the unanimous approval of all 190 lawmakers present. The special prosecutor is investigating whether Choo's actions were intentionally aimed at obstructing the resolution to lift martial law. In particular, the special prosecutor believes a clear explanation is needed regarding the process of changing the meeting location and is focusing on securing testimonies from those involved. Furthermore, the special prosecutor believes that Choo's actions constitute a serious matter that obstructs the normal decision-making process of the National Assembly and undermines democratic principles, and emphasizes that the investigation will be conducted strictly in accordance with the law.
The special prosecutor's team has reportedly secured records of phone calls between Choo Kyung-ho and President Lee Jae-myung immediately after the declaration of martial law. The special prosecutor is focusing on confirming whether Choo had prior knowledge of the declaration of martial law through these call records and what instructions, if any, he received regarding the obstruction of the resolution to lift martial law. In particular, the special prosecutor is analyzing the call times and content to reconstruct the situation at the time and determine whether Choo's actions were a mere coincidence or a pre-planned scheme. The special prosecutor plans to summon and investigate additional individuals based on the secured call records and is considering coercive measures such as search and seizure if necessary. The disclosure of these call records could be crucial evidence in proving Choo's alleged offenses and is expected to play a key role in the future investigation. The public hopes that the truth will be clearly revealed through the special prosecutor's thorough investigation, and the special prosecutor is expected to make every effort to meet these public expectations.
Meanwhile, Choo Kyung-ho maintains that he had no prior knowledge of the martial law and that obstructing the vote was not discussed. Choo stated his willingness to fully cooperate with the special prosecutor's investigation to resolve all suspicions and prove his innocence. He also claims that the change of location for the lawmakers' meeting was a measure to consider the convenience of the lawmakers and that there was no intention to obstruct the resolution to lift martial law. Choo's side has clarified that the phone calls secured by the special prosecutor were simply related to routine work and contained no content related to martial law. However, the special prosecutor is thoroughly reviewing Choo's claims through objective evidence and related testimonies and has repeatedly emphasized that the investigation will be conducted in accordance with the law and without any political considerations. This case has emerged as a hot potato in the political arena, attracting public attention, and the outcome of the special prosecutor's investigation is expected to bring about significant changes in the political landscape.
