On November 23, the Special Committee for the Investigation of the April 16 Sewol Disaster decided to investigate the "adequacy" of Cheong Wa Dae's response to the tragedy. The committee also added the clause, "We will not rule out an investigation of the president." The four members of the committee recommended by the ruling party rushed out of the meeting room and expressed their thoughts to resign saying, "We cannot agree to an investigation into the president's whereabouts that day."
This morning, the committee held the nineteenth plenary session and voted on an investigation into the adequacy of Cheong Wa Dae's response to the accident. Park Jong-dae, a family member of one of the victims had requested such an investigation in September. The request was reviewed by the fact-finding subcommittee and submitted to the plenary session. The request includes five specific issues including President Park Geun-hye and Cheong Wa Dae's orders and responses to the Sewol accident and the subsequent orders and implementation by government ministries. Seventeen standing and non-standing members of the committee attended the meeting, including Chairman Lee Seok-tae.
Members of the committee debated the "orders and responses by the president and Cheong Wa Dae," the first item in the request. Hwang Jeon-won, a non-standing member (recommended by the Saenuri Party) said, "We should clearly state whether this includes an investigation into the president's whereabouts." Park Jong-un (recommended by the Korean Bar Association) said, "When we investigate the five specific items in the request, we will not be able to avoid an investigation into the president's whereabouts, but this should not be taken as an investigation into the president's personal life."
As the debate continued, members recommended by the ruling party released a revised request excluding an investigation into the president's whereabouts during the "seven hours," but this failed to pass. When the committee failed to pass the revised request, members recommended by the ruling party Cha Ki-hwan, Hwang Jeon-won, Ko Young-joo, and Seok Dong-hyeon left the meeting room and said they would resign.
Nine of the thirteen remaining members voted in favor of the original request, which was passed with the majority of the votes. When someone mentioned that the committee should clearly state whether this included an investigation into the president's whereabouts for the "seven hours," the committee included the sentence, "The president will not be excluded from those subject to the investigation." A member of the committee said, "We are not saying that we will investigate the president's whereabouts no matter what. We are just saying that if it is relevant to the case, we will not exclude it from the investigation."
Park Jong-dae, who made the initial request said, "We are not curious about President Park Geun-hye's private life. We are asking why Cheong Wa Dae failed to respond adequately when it should have played the role of the control tower on the day of the accident." He added, "They (some members) appear to be launching a political attack by highlighting the president's whereabouts during the seven hours, which is only a part of the request."
Seok Dong-hyeon, a member who attended the plenary session this day had already retired in September to run in the next parliamentary election in Busan Saha district 2. Seok, who had not attended the committee meetings since, said, "I am still legally a member of the special committee, for I have yet to submit my resignation," and added, "I came here after careful consideration to cast a vote against it (the investigation of the president)."
On November 19, an internal document of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was disclosed. The document included the guidelines, "Concerning the special committee's investigation of BH (Cheong Wa Dae, Blue House), members recommended by the ruling party may express their intention to resign when necessary." The members of the special committee recommended by the ruling party held a press conference when the document was disclosed and said, "We are all willing to resign (if they carry out an investigation of Cheong Wa Dae)."
This morning, the committee held the nineteenth plenary session and voted on an investigation into the adequacy of Cheong Wa Dae's response to the accident. Park Jong-dae, a family member of one of the victims had requested such an investigation in September. The request was reviewed by the fact-finding subcommittee and submitted to the plenary session. The request includes five specific issues including President Park Geun-hye and Cheong Wa Dae's orders and responses to the Sewol accident and the subsequent orders and implementation by government ministries. Seventeen standing and non-standing members of the committee attended the meeting, including Chairman Lee Seok-tae.
Members of the committee debated the "orders and responses by the president and Cheong Wa Dae," the first item in the request. Hwang Jeon-won, a non-standing member (recommended by the Saenuri Party) said, "We should clearly state whether this includes an investigation into the president's whereabouts." Park Jong-un (recommended by the Korean Bar Association) said, "When we investigate the five specific items in the request, we will not be able to avoid an investigation into the president's whereabouts, but this should not be taken as an investigation into the president's personal life."
As the debate continued, members recommended by the ruling party released a revised request excluding an investigation into the president's whereabouts during the "seven hours," but this failed to pass. When the committee failed to pass the revised request, members recommended by the ruling party Cha Ki-hwan, Hwang Jeon-won, Ko Young-joo, and Seok Dong-hyeon left the meeting room and said they would resign.
Nine of the thirteen remaining members voted in favor of the original request, which was passed with the majority of the votes. When someone mentioned that the committee should clearly state whether this included an investigation into the president's whereabouts for the "seven hours," the committee included the sentence, "The president will not be excluded from those subject to the investigation." A member of the committee said, "We are not saying that we will investigate the president's whereabouts no matter what. We are just saying that if it is relevant to the case, we will not exclude it from the investigation."
Park Jong-dae, who made the initial request said, "We are not curious about President Park Geun-hye's private life. We are asking why Cheong Wa Dae failed to respond adequately when it should have played the role of the control tower on the day of the accident." He added, "They (some members) appear to be launching a political attack by highlighting the president's whereabouts during the seven hours, which is only a part of the request."
Seok Dong-hyeon, a member who attended the plenary session this day had already retired in September to run in the next parliamentary election in Busan Saha district 2. Seok, who had not attended the committee meetings since, said, "I am still legally a member of the special committee, for I have yet to submit my resignation," and added, "I came here after careful consideration to cast a vote against it (the investigation of the president)."
On November 19, an internal document of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was disclosed. The document included the guidelines, "Concerning the special committee's investigation of BH (Cheong Wa Dae, Blue House), members recommended by the ruling party may express their intention to resign when necessary." The members of the special committee recommended by the ruling party held a press conference when the document was disclosed and said, "We are all willing to resign (if they carry out an investigation of Cheong Wa Dae)."
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