[News UP] Yoon "Illustration trial before investigation"... No response to "Summoning the Elysian?"

■ Host: Anchor Cho Jin-hyuk, Anchor Kim Jung-jin
■ Starring: Kim Ki-heung, former deputy spokesperson for the presidential office, Park Sung-min, former presidential secretary for youth

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information. Please specify [YTN News UP] when quoting.

[Anchor]
Let's take a closer look at the contents of the politics. Kim Ki-heung, a deputy spokesman for the former presidential office, and Park Sung-min, a former presidential youth secretary. Welcome, two of you. First of all, the Constitutional Court regarded President Yoon's continued refusal to receive the documents as receiving them. Then, should I assume that the schedule will proceed as it is from the 27th?

[Kim Gi-heung]
Let's say the president didn't receive it, but the Constitutional Court did. To put it this easily, I think I acknowledged it. In the end, the Constitutional Court's clock is likely to work normally, but there is a prediction that it is not very likely so far whether the president or his lawyer will attend at the hearing or preparation. In that respect, above all, the president needs time to prepare something for the current situation. In fact, it is not difficult to find lawyers when it comes to criminal prosecution, but in the case of the Constitutional Court, it is not easy to find people with high knowledge of this situation in the Constitutional Court.

Therefore, Kang Il-won, the former justice of the Constitutional Court, who was mentioned at first, also died for personal reasons. Because of that aspect, it seems that there is a problem with the lawyer who actually goes to the Constitutional Court's trial, regardless of whether it is such a trick or not. Shouldn't there be something you can talk about when you go out to the scene? He also talks about the inevitability of invoking martial law, but since he calmly organizes his thoughts on the civil war and the investigation is being conducted now, I think he needs some absolute time to sort out his position on what he talked to the field commanders in the investigation.

[Anchor]
It is true that the refusal to receive documents for the impeachment trial is true, but it is also true that preparation time is needed. How do you see the flow now? [Park Sung-min] First of all, it is very appropriate for the Constitutional Court to put the brakes on the president's intentionally delayed strategy. I think the Constitutional Court's wise judgment shone. I think these ways of deliberately trying to cover up judicial proceedings by the president are coming out of a very bad habit. Because the president is an expert who has already been investigating a lot, it is difficult to see that he desperately needs a lawyer's assistance in the current situation.

What I don't understand a little is that lawyer Seok Dong-hyun, a friend of the president of Yoon Suk Yeol, keeps coming out to convey the president's position. So, I think it's very contradictory to the situation in which he has not been appointed as a lawyer, but he continues to have questions and answers with reporters and insists on the president's position. Even if lawyers who have been formally appointed and formally appointed come forward, it is not enough to say that the appointment of lawyers is delayed and that the president's strategy has already been decided to continue a kind of public opinion battle without receiving documents. Isn't the logic of lawyer Seok Dong-hyun actually following the logic of the president's public statement? Therefore, in the current situation, it seems like an excuse to say that the appointment of a lawyer is less than enough.

[Anchor]
You mentioned lawyer Seok Dong-hyun, but he made his position. The president said that he seems to think that the impeachment trial process should take precedence over the current investigation, but he is saying that the investigation should be conducted first after the judgment of the president's status, right?

[Kim Gi-heung]
There are some cases in which the president disputes the legal part through the Constitutional Court hearing, but above all, he has a strategy to talk about the reasons for martial law, political reasons, and inevitability. However, when you are under investigation by the police, prosecutors, or the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, why can't you talk about what you want to say for a long time? And in a way, the investigation of the investigative agency is not conducted publicly, is it? Therefore, in order to do your message at the point where you want it, I think the Constitutional Court is strategically correct from your point of view, and as I said earlier, there are legal disputes, but most of all, I think the president has no choice but to issue a political message because he is a politician.

In the end, martial law is inevitable, and as the president said in a public statement on the 12th, this is a kind of high-level act of governance. Then, he said that it was a constitutional decision, so if you have a strategic need, you should send this message through the Constitutional Court's hearing. If you end up sending it through an investigation into the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, it may be limited to a peripheral problem if you answer a short answer to a question and then a specific fact rather than the possibility of getting the message you want. In that sense, I think the president's strategy is to present his full position through the Constitutional Court's hearing.

[Anchor]
So it's a strategy to secure an opportunity to express the legitimacy of martial law and an opportunity to issue a political message. How did the secretary hear it?

[Park Sungmin]
I think the president's continued position is that martial law was justified anyway, and since he is the president, he should be careful in making such a request for summons. However, I think this is an inappropriate answer considering the seriousness of the current situation. First of all, it is problematic in two ways to continue to emphasize the president's status and refuse the request for attendance. The first is that the president clearly said he would not avoid legal responsibility in front of the people, but it turns out that he was lying about this.

Second, I think that continuing to refuse when there is a request for attendance is because I still haven't given up my sense of privilege as a president. This is the first emergency in 45 years called emergency martial law to create an emergency situation and not cooperate with the investigation toward him. He is intentionally delaying and using his position to conceal the truth in order to preempt his favor ahead of a trial against him. That's why they continue to take very inappropriate steps. That's why I think there's no choice but to keep talking about the president as an unfaithful person.

[Anchor]
You said that you violated what you said you would not avoid legal and political responsibility, but I will ask the secretary first. The second request for attendance from the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit has also been rejected. And lawyer Seok said he can't say whether he will comply with the president's Christmas attendance now. So there seems to be no chance of responding to the summons, right?

[Park Sungmin]
There's no such thing. Because lawyer Seok Dong-hyun's position alone suggests that he believes that the impeachment trial process should take precedence over the investigation, which means that he will not cooperate well with the investigation. Therefore, it seems that I have expressed my position that I will refuse to comply with the summons on the 25th, which could be an ultimatum from the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. So, as a result, I think it is very deplorable that the president is openly showing that he is intentionally dragging his feet.

As the president said, if you say that you do not avoid legal responsibility, you should cooperate in revealing the truth about the civil war. But it's very inappropriate because you're actually putting the brakes on the investigation that you're targeting the president head-on by delaying the Constitutional Court's trial by not receiving the documents and not responding to the investigation subpoenas.

[Anchor]
The president is said to be complaining of frustration, but if he says he doesn't comply with the attendance like this, will he go through the procedure of arrest warrant?

[Kim Gi-heung]
In fact, I cannot be an exception to the President, nor anyone, nor the leader of the main opposition party, when it comes to the application of the law. However, in my opinion, there are criticisms that the president is using bed soccer from the people or the opposition parties, but usually, when the suspect does not respond to the summons without justifiable reasons, he or she sees it about three times. After that, he said he would apply for an arrest warrant. In that case, it may be meaningless to count the number of times, three times, in a way, but if you take that into account when you're in a normal situation because you're a president, I think you should look at this part of whether you apply for an arrest warrant right away.

For example, on the 25th and tomorrow, I think there is a high possibility that they will not respond to the summons, then we can coordinate the next schedule through some coordination with the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and the President. And if there is a problem with the appointment of a lawyer, as the president says at face value, you can adjust it by setting a date close to the 25th. In that case, if the president says he won't respond, I think he can go out as a forced investigation. If an arrest warrant is issued, wouldn't there be another physical conflict at the security office? If you block something. When that happens, isn't it another controversy because the president and the current situation may not go into a stable phase? If so, I hope the president and the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit will find a point of contact.

[Park Sungmin]
However, it is very worrisome that the president's delay in cooperation is also delaying the Constitutional Court's prompt process, but in this investigation situation, all major military officials except the president have been secured, and with evidence being collected, investigations targeting the president are being repeatedly put on hold. For example, the presidential office's security office has blocked some cases, and there have been many cases where seizure and search have become very impossible, and the president is not responding to summonses. As a result, isn't the truth or evidence that can be revealed by the president abusing his position and using his power to come out uncooperative in this investigation being concealed?

In the end, there are concerns that they are gaining time to destroy evidence. That's why, considering the significance of this issue right now, as I've just mentioned in this news, a notebook has been found in the case of former intelligence commander Roh Sang-won. The fact that the president is not cooperating with the investigation into him is not only contrary to what he said, but also needs to take these steps as soon as possible given the seriousness of the current issue and the destruction of evidence.

[Anchor]
First of all, I think the possibility of coordination is open. And yesterday, a new issue emerged. Rep. Jang Kyung-tae raised some suspicions about Kim Gun-hee's schedule on the day of the emergency martial law, and he disclosed that he had been to a plastic surgery clinic. So, usually a doctor comes to the president's office or residence to see the doctor in person, but that day, Mrs. Kim Gun-hee raised the suspicion that she went to the plastic surgery clinic and spent time there. Which side is the Democratic argument?

[Park Sungmin]
First of all, Rep. Jang Kyung-tae raised a question about this. So, it's about clarifying the course of the day, and then pointing out whether you knew martial law in advance. In the end, it is a process of investigating why, for what reason, and by whom this martial law was declared in the lead. If Mrs. Kim Gun-hee knew martial law in advance, I think she could be the subject of an investigation, and I think she probably pointed out that. So why did you go to that place only on this day? If you didn't recognize martial law in advance, wouldn't there be a reason to look different than usual? I pointed out this part.

[Anchor]
So, it seems to be raising suspicions by focusing on whether plastic surgery is not a problem, but whether you knew it in advance. What did you think, Deputy Spokesperson?

[Kim Gi-heung]
If Representative Jang Kyung-tae said that we should reveal everything we did for three hours, in the end, it's a little yellow in my opinion. In my view, it has nothing to do with the essence. If Mrs. Kim Gun-hee said she found out about martial law, was that why you avoided her seat? I don't know what the causal relationship is between going to a plastic surgery clinic and this. I think that was the argument that the Democratic Party wanted, probably. First Lady Kim Gun-hee ordered martial law. I want to say this, actually. I want to talk about the relationship between martial law and First Lady Kim Gun-hee, but this has nothing to do with the essence.

In addition, Rep. Jang Kyung-tae went through the process of checking the reports when asked what he said. I didn't say I checked the report. In the end, it gives an impression as if there was something, but it didn't provide conclusive evidence or anything like that. Didn't you say you got a tip 10 days ago? Then, there may be specific photos or evidence or recordings of the report for 10 days. But I haven't been able to present those things. What I want to say to Representative Jang Kyung-tae is that he, aide Jang Kyung-tae, is there a suspicion of a life-saving lobby in relation to Chief Lim Sung-geun? When it came to that, the people in the group chat room said there was a problem because of the credibility of the informant.

So what Representative Jang Kyung-tae said was that Lee Jong-ho and Kim Gun-hee are the focus and the rest are next to each other. It's not important. In the end, it was Kim Gun-hee. In the end, the truth is not important, but it is a strategy that if you tie it up with First Lady Kim Gun-hee, you can make it a bad frame for that. In fact, didn't you criticize the photo taken with a heart disease patient during an overseas trip as poverty pornography? At the same time, he said that he installed a light that didn't exist at that time, but in a way, what does this kind of story mean that has nothing to do with the essence? I don't think it's gossip.

[Anchor]
What do you think of it as saying that it has nothing to do with speculation or essence? [Park Sung-min] But the key to raising the issue is whether First Lady Kim Gun-hee knew about martial law beforehand, and I told you to look at this part. What's important is that as a civilian anyway. As a first lady, but she does not have any specific public position, she points out this part of whether she knew about national security in advance, and she points out the overall contents of the situation, such as whether Kim Gun-hee knew about it, in the context of the situation where these circumstances are being revealed. Therefore, the investigation into Kim Gun-hee is inevitable if it is considered that she was aware of martial law in advance or participated in the conspiracy process. I think I raised this issue to point out this part.

[Anchor]
And let's take a look at the State Council regarding the twin special prosecution law. There is a lot of tension today, and the deadline the Democratic Party notified earlier was today. So, today is the time to announce the Insurrection Special Prosecutors' Act and the Special Prosecutor's Act for Mrs. Kim Gun-hee. They say that this agenda is not presented at the Cabinet meeting. What did you think of the decision?

[Kim Gi-heung]
It is true that the current situation is politically inclined to the opposition party. You don't know that, the acting president. Acting President Han Deok-soo may not be unaware of that, but I think he has made a decision for the Constitution, the law, and the future of the Republic of Korea. I have a 15-day period when I leave anything else and either promulgate the original bill or demand a re-decision. But the Democrats didn't allow it, they didn't allow it, and I think they specified it as 24 days.

[Anchor]
It's supposed to be until the end of the year, right?

[Kim Ki-heung]
is correct. It's for 15 days. There are various processes of consideration about that. And if you ask for reconsideration, there may be various controversies about this once again regarding the part that came with more than 150 people in favor, so please discuss this again. So if more than 200 people approve, this will pass. In the end, it's not that it's unconditionally not possible, but there's a process that asks you to think about it again. But I just think it's a problem to ask for this process. So if it's not the answer they think it is, is it all injustice? And if you don't declare this, you're going to impeach it. Then I think this is another politics of fear.

If they have a sense of responsibility as an axis of state administration, isn't the stability of state administration the most important thing for me? But I think it's suppressing the current civil war of the Democratic Party. The civil war ended on December 3rd with the power of the people. However, in a way, I think that we still have to suppress the civil war, and even though we have to give people relief in the realm of politics, we are constantly driving this politically. So, the most important thing for me is that CEO Lee Jae-myung said that. Citing Machiavelli, it is said that all meaningful things in the world have been done in danger, but in a way, the current danger is not offset by politics, but rather increased. In the end, I express my concern about using my own political assets and my own political strategy in the name of the people and democracy.

[Anchor]
You said that it is a matter to make a careful decision within a guaranteed period. How did you like it?

[Park Sungmin]
I think I should tell you that it's not time to delay like this. The country is in a very chaotic situation, and as I said earlier, the investigation should proceed quickly and the fact-finding should continue quickly in this regard, and in fact, the time is passing by as Acting President Han Deok-soo did not promulgate the Special Prosecutor Act. I think it's inappropriate in two aspects. First of all, acting Han Deok-soo is an acting president. That

So what should the acting president do in the current situation? If you point out that the state is very confused and the constitutional order has collapsed after the emergency martial law, you have to quickly restore it to its original state. Therefore, it is inappropriate in that the acting president, who is supposed to promote the stability of the country, is neglecting the chaos of the country, and it is no different from President Yoon Suk Yeol's actions to drag on in this way. Another thing is that acting Han Deok-soo is actually a suspect. Because I was at the Cabinet meeting on the night of the declaration of the illegal emergency martial law. In fact, it cannot be seen as a Cabinet meeting, but in a way, it was a very rough place before the declaration of martial law, so it became a subject of investigation as a suspect.

But if this person comes forward and says that he does not promulgate the special prosecution law to reveal the truth of the civil war, it can actually be his own self-bang. If you think you are proud of yourself and that you are not guilty, it is right for you to cooperate in promulgating the Special Prosecutor Act as soon as possible and revealing the truth of the December 3 civil war. That is why I will say that in the current situation, acting Han Deok-soo has to choose between Yoon-sim and public sentiment. Instead of looking at the president of Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling party, it is right to announce the independent counsel law against Kim and the independent counsel law against civil war without delay.

And one more thing: The Permanent Special Prosecutor Recommendation Committee has already been established in the National Assembly, but the acting president is not cooperating with the process of conducting the permanent special prosecution. Therefore, it is said that it is right to request a recommendation to the National Assembly, but it is still dragging its feet to the point where even the National Assembly speaker pointed out this part. If this doesn't mean you're going to sympathize with the civil war in the end, you don't think there's any reason to do this.

[Anchor]
Just in time, acting representative Han Deok-soo's remarks were heard at the Cabinet meeting. We'll listen to it right away.

[Han Deok-soo]
Christmas is just a day away. Regardless of religion and living conditions, it is time for all the people to spend a comfortable and full time organizing the year, preparing for the New Year.This year, many people are anxious because the political situation is difficult and internal and external uncertainties are growing. I'm sorry and heartbroken. The government is focusing its efforts on stable state administration, especially protecting the economy. There are many people who are concerned that red flags are being turned on throughout our economy. In economics, psychology is important in many cases.

The government is doing everything in its power to remove uncertainties from external economic causes so that people's consumer sentiment, domestic demand sentiment, and business sentiment do not shrink more than necessary. The export front, the pillar of our economy, is still solid. If current trends continue, a trade surplus is expected for the 19th consecutive month through December.

However, the tension cannot be let go recently, such as a rise in the exchange rate, an oversupply from China, and increased trade risks following the launch of a new U.S. government. Related ministries, such as the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, are urged to immediately resolve on-site difficulties and usually make every effort to minimize uncertainty so that Korean companies can focus on exports without shaking.

Resolving legislative uncertainty is also very important to facilitate corporate investment. All members of the State Council should do their best to cooperate closely with the National Assembly so that bills directly related to corporate investment, such as the Special Act on Semiconductors, the Basic Act on Artificial Intelligence, and the Special Act on the Power Grid, can be processed as soon as possible. Please actively communicate with the National Assembly to come up with reasonable measures regarding bills that companies are concerned about side effects, such as amendments to the Commercial Act.

The government's policy measures, such as fiscal, tax, and regulatory innovation, must also be bolder and more active than ever. All ministries should thoroughly prepare for next year's budget to be executed intensively in the first half of the year, and the financial authorities should take additional measures if necessary. The 2024 tax code amendment will be promulgated after a cabinet meeting today. The revision of the tax law will expand support for small business owners and small and medium-sized businesses, including raising the yellow umbrella deduction income deduction limit, and lay the foundation for companies to promote investment employment, including extending the deadline for R&D and integrated investment tax credits.

In particular, the financial investment income tax will be completely abolished, the implementation of virtual asset taxation will be suspended for two years from 2025 to 2027, and it is expected to contribute to protecting domestic investors and revitalizing the capital market. I think it is a good example of the positive cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties in the midst of difficulties. I think we need to step up our efforts to make more of these cases.

The international community is looking at us every moment. To ensure that there are no concerns and uncertainties left in the eyes of the international community, the government consistently explains to the international community that the potential of the Korean economy is solid and that the Republic of Korea moves predictably in accordance with the Constitution and laws.

After today's Cabinet meeting, the government will appoint an ambassador for international financial cooperation, and will soon appoint an ambassador for international investment cooperation. The Ambassador for International Financial Cooperation will actively explain Korea's economic situation and policy direction to major countries and global credit rating agencies, and will focus on economic and diplomatic activities to manage Korea's external credibility. However, I think there is a clear limit to what the government can do alone without the cooperation of the political community and the understanding of the people. Even if diplomacy and security, security and administration, economy and finance roll flexibly, I think the core axis that unites all these fields is politics, and the essence of politics is to reconcile differences and unify the people.

I sincerely hope you will play that role. If politics doesn't do it, Korea can't overcome this crisis now. The ruling and opposition parties must put their heads together above all in order to wisely deal with pending issues that conflict legal interpretation and political views, such as the handling of the independent counsel law or the appointment of a judge of the Constitutional Court. I think the ruling and opposition parties should start by discussing and negotiating a compromise on how the majority of the people will understand that the special prosecution's promotion and appointment were carried out without any inclination in accordance with the Constitution and laws.

If the ruling and opposition parties do not make efforts to create a legal framework that both the investigator and the receiver can accept is fair, there is a high risk of growing distrust and hatred in the Republic of Korea. I am very much looking forward to the resolution of the Constitution and the law of the National Assembly, with Chairman Woo Won-sik at the center, and I firmly believe that he will do so.

That was the power of Korean politics that I saw and respected while working as a public official in the Republic of Korea for a long time. The new year is a week away. It's time to look back on the year and make a New Year's resolution. I think stable state administration is the last duty of my long public life. I will do my best to only look at the people and think about the people's livelihoods. I sincerely ask that the people trust the government, consume as usual, read family and acquaintances, and lead their daily lives.

[Anchor]
Just a moment ago, I heard all the remarks of Acting President Han Deok-soo at a Cabinet meeting held at the Seoul Government Complex. To summarize the contents for a moment, the government pointed out the factors of the economic crisis, saying that the government focuses on stable state administration. And I also mentioned the amendment to the commercial law. He especially emphasized the cooperation of the National Assembly while also asking for preparations for the implementation of the budget. He stressed that the ruling and opposition parties should put their heads together on issues that conflict political views, such as the appointment of a constitutional judge. And Chairman Woo Won-sik and others said they desperately expect the National Assembly to come up with a solution consistent with the Constitution and the law. To summarize, we will continue to think about the promulgation of the Special Prosecutor Act, which was actually drawing attention. You're asking the National Assembly to agree, right?

[Kim Gi-heung]
In the end, acting Han Deok-soo requested the role of politics today. Isn't there a consultative body between the ruling and opposition parties on the 26th? I hope we can talk about this issue candidly there. Isn't there a position of the ruling party and a position of the opposition party? Although both sides prioritize democracy and the people, acting president Han Deok-soo should accept what he is saying in accordance with the Constitution and laws and whether it is under investigation or those who are investigating. Since he said he would hold the opposition party accountable as he has said so far, whether he will proceed with impeachment immediately or delay the so-called deadline by talking about his position through a consultative body between ruling and opposition parties on the 26th. I'm interested in this part.

[Anchor]
How did you like it?

[Park Sungmin]
But it's so nice for the ruling and opposition parties to talk and cooperate. I think it's important. However, I feel that the power of the people is not in a position to have any dialogue in this area. Because basically, after the emergency martial law crisis, the impeachment motion was decided by the National Assembly, and what is very important when the impeachment proceedings proceed after that is to fill the vacancies of the three constitutional judges. However, I thought that the ruling party is actually pressuring acting Han Deok-soo politically by urging acting Han Deok-soo to veto the bill and making a self-contradictory logic that the constitutional judge should not be appointed.

What kind of dialogue can we have with the people's power to show this? As for the current situation, even within the power of the people, lawmakers who voted for impeachment are saying themselves that they have been bullied and branded. But under these circumstances, if the power of the people is not really in sympathy with the civil war, how can they show this if they are not defending the president? But if the ruling party, which shows this and the ruling party, which is the power of the people, continue to show this, what kind of dialogue can the Democratic Party of Korea have?

So, to put it more simply, I think acting Han Deok-soo should make a political decision on his own, rather than taking a passive attitude or avoiding responsibility, such as handing over the responsibility to the ruling and opposition parties and saying, "If the National Assembly negotiates, I will receive it." Promoting stability in state affairs is the acting role. I'm not there to be aware of the power of the people, but I'm there to resolve the current chaos of the country.

[Kim Gi-heung]
As I say, self-contradiction is being done by the opposition. Sometimes you say you shouldn't exercise your veto power, and don't you ask them to make an appointment? They see it in their own political interests. Of course, both the opposition party and the ruling party say they are doing it for the people. To be very frank, who created the so-called sloppy, unreasonable six-member system that actually prevented the Constitutional Court from hearing about the impeachment through numerous impeachment so far? Did you do a lot about the three-person system after that? Isn't there something like that?

So in the end, and what I want to tell you about the special prosecution can be recommended by a third party as they say, right? But it's not that, it's blatantly letting the opposition party want to investigate. Doesn't the player decide the referee then? So can the people or the ruling party get it when the result comes out? Then, when there is a toxin clause situation, the toxin clause was removed and the opposition party issued a special prosecutor Kim Gun-hee on 15 different charges, and the intention to do it means that it will investigate everything related to all governments and the ruling party.

I'm saying I'm going to have the same power. If so, the problem of the opposition party is that the ruling party and acting authority Han Deok-soo are framed as so-called insurrection sympathizers. It's not a partner in state administration. Despite the power of the people, 18 people opposed martial law and joined the process of lifting martial law. And there are people who think that the only answer to this situation is impeachment, and there are other answers. Therefore, what will the frame of unconditionally sympathizing with the civil war, planning the civil war, and instigating the civil war do to solve the current turmoil? That's why we make concessions to each other, and that's why there's politics.

[Anchor]
Let's stop here. So far, I've shared it with Kim Ki-heung, a deputy spokesman for the former presidential office, and Park Sung-min, a former presidential youth secretary.