The special investigation team for insurrection is conducting witness investigations related to the suspicion of obstructing the National Assembly's vote to lift martial law during the emergency martial law on Dec. 3, against Democratic Party of Korea legislator Baek Hye-ryun.
On the same day, around 4:08 p.m., Baek arrived at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, where the special investigation team is located. He told reporters gathered in front of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, "I plan to answer faithfully to the best of my knowledge regarding what the special investigation team asks."
When reporters asked, "What do you think about the (special investigation team's) investigation into the leadership of the People Power Party?" Baek replied, "At that time (during the vote to lift martial law), it was really a critical moment, and as a member of the National Assembly, it was a situation that required me to come to the plenary session to vote. I understand that more than 10 members of the People Power Party were in the floor leader's office right next to the plenary session, yet they did not participate in the vote, so I believe there was some act to obstruct the vote."
The special investigation team appears to be investigating the overall situation before and after the National Assembly's vote on the resolution to demand the lifting of martial law after the declaration of emergency martial law on Dec. 3.
Particularly, it is said that the investigation will also look into whether the leadership of the People Power Party obstructed the attendance of its members in the National Assembly vote. At that time, the National Assembly's "resolution demanding the lifting of martial law" passed with 190 present and 190 in favor, with only 18 of the 108 members of the People Power Party participating at 1:02 a.m. on Dec. 4.
Previously, in relation to this, the special investigation team investigated National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik and Kim Sang-wook, a Democratic Party legislator who was a member of the People Power Party during last year's vote, as well as People Power Party lawmakers Jo Kyung-tae and Kim Ye-ji as witnesses.