The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and five other opposition parties jointly called on President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday to accept a special counsel investigation into the military’s response to a Marine’s death last year.

The six — the DP, the Rebuilding Korea Party, the New Reform Party, the Justice Party, the Progressive Party and the New Future Party (Saemirae) — held a press conference near the presidential office to demand Yoon not veto a special counsel bill passed by the opposition-controlled National Assembly last week.

“Is it asking for too much to ask for the truth on why a young Marine died while supporting flood recovery operations and whether there was external pressure during the course of the investigation?” said DP floor leader Park Chan-dae.

“The president exercising his veto authority will not hide the truth,” he added. “If he exercises his veto authority, the people will not tolerate it.”

Cpl. Chae Su-geun died during a search mission for downpour victims in July 2023.

The
DP has pushed for a special counsel investigation on allegations that Yoon’s office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in a military investigation into his death.

Yoon voiced reservations about a new probe during a press conference Thursday, saying if the ongoing investigation by the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials is insufficient, he “will be the first to call for a special counsel probe.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency