December 20, 2024
Seoul – Acting President Han Deok-soo on Thursday vetoed six bills passed by the opposition-controlled National Assembly last month, despite threats from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea to impeach him if he “crosses the line.”
This is the second time in the history of South Korea's constitution that an acting president has exercised veto power. The last time was in 2004.
South Korea's prime minister immediately assumed the role of acting president after President Yoon Seok-yeol was impeached by Congress on Saturday, accusing him of rebellion over the botched martial law order imposed on Dec. 3.
The cabinet approved a motion asking parliament to reconsider the six bills at a special meeting on Thursday morning. This includes amending the Grain Management Law to require the government to purchase surplus rice in the event of abnormal price fluctuations. The prime minister's office said around noon that the bills had been sent back to parliament following Han Kuo-yu's decision.
The bills will be scrapped if the re-vote fails to meet the 200-vote threshold in the 300-member parliament to override a veto. Observers say the bills are likely to be scrapped as the ruling People's Power party, which holds 108 of the 300 seats, is expected to vote against them.
Han Kuo-yu said at the cabinet meeting: “As the acting president, I have repeatedly thought and carefully considered the option that best represents the position of a responsible government in the severe situation facing the country.”
“It is with a heavy heart that I ask Parliament to reconsider these six bills at a critical time when government-party cooperation is more urgent than ever. But the government must act in a manner that reflects its priorities for the spirit of the Constitution and the country's future. decision,” he added.
In deciding to veto the amendment to the Grain Management Law, Han expressed concern that excessive government intervention in the market could ultimately lead to a drop in rice prices.
The bill is a watered-down version of a previous revision of the Grain Management Act, which Mr Yoon vetoed in April last year, a month after the opposition-led parliament passed it.
Last year's version had more detailed conditions, requiring the purchase of excess rice when remaining production exceeds demand by 3-5% or when rice prices drop 5-8% from the previous year. The latest version gives the Commission and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs the power to set standards.
Other bills that were defeated included amendments to the National Assembly Act that would have removed the automatic submission of government budget proposals to the plenary session if the two parties failed to agree by the annual deadline. The current system allows cabinet to automatically forward budget proposals even if they fail to pass a parliamentary standing committee by the annual deadline (November 30).
Kwon Sung-dong, the recently elected floor leader and acting chairman of the ruling People's Power Party, on Thursday urged the acting president to veto the six bills. He also emphasized that if the Constitutional Court decides to restore Yoon's power, it will need to introduce a bipartisan bill to punish lawmakers who voted in favor of Yoon's impeachment motion.
“The bipartisan bill is necessary to prevent endless impeachment motions in Parliament,” he explained.
On Thursday, Democrats stepped up their threats to impeach the acting president if he “crosses the line.”
“The specter of the government still exists – the name of the person exercising the presidential veto has changed from Yoon Seok-yeol to Han Deok-soo,” Democratic Party spokesman Noh Jung-myeon said in a written statement. “Acting President Han is not the president. Besides, he is Suspect in the rebellion. We warned (Han) that if he was considered an accomplice to the rebellion, we would drag him down – not to cross the line.
Roh's statement echoed comments made on Sunday by Rep. Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea, the main opposition leader, who said his party would not seek impeachment of Han Kuo-yu “for the time being.”
Although Lee Myung-bak did not mention the six controversial bills, he indirectly pressured the South Korean government to approve proposals for two independent special prosecutors to investigate Yoon Eun-hye's rebellion charges and multiple charges against first lady Kim Kun-hee, These include a stock manipulation scandal in which she was allegedly involved.
“(I told Han on the phone) rejection of either of these two bills could represent political bias,” Lee told reporters.
He said that while many in the party called for Han Kuo-yu's impeachment over the unrest triggered by Yin's martial law order, they decided against it to prevent “chaos in national affairs.”
