Civic Group Challenges President Yoon’s Veto of Special Probe Bill

SEOUL — A civic organization, the National Action for Judicial Justice, has lodged a formal complaint against President Yoon Suk Yeol following his veto of legislation designed to initiate a special counsel investigation. The bill, which was pushed through by the opposition Democratic Party, targeted alleged governmental interference in a military probe related to the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun during a rescue operation in July 2023.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the complaint filed on Monday with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the group accuses President Yoon of abusing his veto power to obstruct the appointment of a special counsel, suggesting the decision was driven by personal political interests rather than national welfare. The civic group asserts that this act of vetoing the special probe bill was an inappropriate use of presidential authority, especially in a case involving potential misconduct in the military and defense sectors.