Woo Sang-ho, senior secretary for political affairs at the presidential office, said on the 7th, "The consensus formed by the party and the presidential office is that, in principle, we agree on pushing for a dedicated insurrection tribunal, but we formed a consensus on minimizing potential unconstitutionality."

Attendees applaud at the Lee Jae-myung administration six-month progress meeting held at the presidential office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 7th. From right: Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Office of National Security Director Wi Sung-lac, Policy Director Kim Yong-bum, and Senior Political Secretary Woo Sang-ho. Senior Public Relations Secretary Lee Kyu-yeon. /Courtesy of News1

At the "six-month performance briefing of the three chiefs and senior secretaries of the presidential office" held at the Yongsan presidential office that day, Woo, the senior secretary for political affairs, said, "I understand the progress of the Dedicated Insurrection Tribunal Act as the process in which the party overcomes internal differences of opinion, coordinates them, and produces a unified plan," and stated accordingly.

He added, "On the discussion of the bill, the presidential office is maintaining the position of respecting and watching the party's internal discussion," and said, "What President Lee Jae-myung is saying also concerns a principled, fundamental stance."

The Dedicated Insurrection Tribunal Act has already passed the plenary session of The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the Democratic Party. However, the legal community and the opposition camp continue to argue that establishing a dedicated insurrection tribunal undermines judicial independence. Even within the broader pro-government camp, there are claims that if a request for a constitutional review is filed against this bill, trials related to the emergency martial law could be suspended.

At the aides' meeting at the presidential office that day, Woo, the senior secretary for political affairs, emphasized minimizing unconstitutionality while appearing to indicate that the matter would be left to discussions within the party. On the 3rd, in a special address to the public, the president also avoided specific remarks, saying, "The National Assembly will judge well, and our legislature will exercise the authority granted by the Constitution well and faithfully uphold the will of popular sovereignty."

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