Lee Wan-kyu, the former Minister of Government Legislation, who faces allegations over the so-called "Samcheong-dong safe house meeting," refused to take an oath as a witness at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit on the 24th. Ruling and opposition party members of the committee clashed sharply over his refusal, and the committee audit descended into chaos.
At the committee audit that day, when it was his turn to take the oath, the former minister said, "Under Article 3, Paragraph 2 of the Act on Testimony and Appraisal before the National Assembly, I have the right to refuse to take an oath," adding, "Accordingly, I will refuse to take the oath."
Regarding the Samcheong-dong safe house meeting, Lee said, "The safe house gathering scheduled to be questioned today is currently investigating," and added, "I understand that Commissioners from the Democratic Party have also filed a complaint against me. As I am currently under investigation, I will refuse to take the oath."
Choo Mi-ae, a Democratic Party of Korea Chairperson of the committee, criticized the refusal to take the oath, saying, "When an insurgent issued a proclamation and attempted to crush the basic rights of the people with tanks, there was silence and connivance, and the safe house meeting was held the very next day," adding, "As someone who held public office, there is a duty to testify."
She continued, "When a witness refuses to testify without a justifiable reason, the law provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine between 10 million won and 30 million won," emphasizing, "A complaint can be filed under the Act on Testimony and Appraisal before the National Assembly."
However, the former minister again refused to take the oath, saying, "Haven't you, Commissioner, already filed a complaint against me?" and, "Can it be that the person who filed the complaint investigates and the person who filed the complaint tries the case?"
The former minister faces allegations that on Dec. 4 last year, the day after the Dec. 3 emergency martial law was lifted, he met Kim Ju-hyun, the former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, Park Sung-jae, the former justice minister, and Lee Sang-min, the former Minister of the Interior and Safety, at the president's safe house in Samcheong-dong to discuss response measures.
The committee descended into chaos again over the former minister's refusal to take the oath. The Democratic Party argued that an examination of witnesses of the former minister was necessary, while the People Power Party countered that under the Constitution and the National Assembly Act, a witness has the right to refuse to take an oath.
Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae said, "He is the immediate past head of the Ministry of Government Legislation and a major participant in an insurrection mission," adding, "We filed a complaint because he lied under oath." Ruling party secretary Kim Yong-min also criticized, "Did you commit an insurrection while faithfully observing the Constitution?"
Na Kyung-won, a People Power Party lawmaker, said, "The witness clearly has the right to refuse to take an oath under the Constitution and the National Assembly Act due to concerns about criminal prosecution or indictment," adding, "Forcing or pressuring an oath in the National Assembly is doing something in the name of the people that the National Assembly must not do." In response to protests from Democratic Party lawmakers, she also said, "This is the tyranny of the majority."
Chairperson Choo also criticized, saying, "Does it make sense that lawmakers are shielding him so that he (the former minister) cannot take the oath at all?"