 ▲ 최보윤 국민의힘 수석대변인이 이날 오후 2시 50분 국회소통관 언론 브리핑을 통해 현안에 대한 논평을 이어가고 있다. © 이제항 선임기자 |
브레이크뉴스 이제항 선임기자/시인 = 최보윤 국민의힘 수석대변인은 9일 종합특검의 특검법 개정 요구, 중앙선관위의 선거소청 기각 각본 하달, 그리고 민주당이 강행한 정보통신망법 개정안의 부작용을 전방위로 비판했다. 최 수석대변인은 이를 사법 정의 교란, 참정권 참사, 국제적 망신으로 규정하며 헌정 질서와 표현의 자유를 위협하는 행위를 즉각 중단하라고 촉구했다.
최보윤 국민의힘 수석대변인은 이날 오후 2시 50분 국회소통관 언론 브리핑을 통해 “종합특검의 초법적 요구와 선관위의 기각 각본 가이드라인, 그리고 표현의 자유를 옥죄는 정보통신망법 개정은 대한민국 사법 체계와 민주주의 가치를 뿌리째 흔드는 행위”라며 이같이 밝혔다.
종합특검법 개정 요구 비판
먼저, 최보윤 수석대변인은 권창영 2차 종합특검팀이 수사 종료를 보름 앞두고 인력 증원과 기한 연장을 골자로 한 특검법 개정을 요구하는 행태를 지적하며 말문을 열었다. 최보윤 수석대변인은 “이는 특검 제도의 예외성과 법적 한계를 망각한 채, 자신들을 무소불위의 ‘상설 정치보복 기관’으로 격상시키겠다는 오만한 발상”이라며, “이미 누적 660일 동안 온갖 곳을 샅샅이 뒤졌는데 대체 언제까지 수사를 붙잡고 늘어지겠다는 것이냐”고 비판했다. 이어 “권 특검이 과거 '특별합동수사본부를 3년은 해야 할 것 같다'고 한 발언은 애초에 기한 내 수사를 마칠 의지가 없고 임기 내내 정치보복을 이어가겠다는 속내를 고백한 것”이라고 주장했다.
그러면서 “막대한 인력과 예산을 쏟아붓고도 종합특검이 보여준 결과는 별건 수사와 특검 간 진흙탕 싸움뿐”이라며 “법원 역시 구속영장을 6명이나 기각하며 제동을 걸었는데, 무리한 과잉 수사로 사법 정의를 교란하는 것이 진상규명이냐”고 꼬집었다. 아울러 “국회 법사위 검토보고서와 예산정책처 분석에서도 특검의 요구는 실익 없는 세금 낭비이자 초법적 발상으로 결론 내렸다”라며, “종합특검이 남은 보름 동안 해야 할 일은 억지 떼쓰기가 아니라 법에 정해진 절차에 따라 정규 수사기관으로 사건을 넘기는 수사 인계뿐”이라고 주장했다.
중앙선관위 선거소청 각본 하달 규탄
다음으로, 최보윤 수석대변인은 서울시선거관리위원 3명이 일괄 사임계를 제출한 사태를 언급하며, 중앙선관위가 선거소청 심사 전 기각 가이드라인을 하달한 의혹을 규탄했다. 최보윤 수석대변인은 “중앙선관위가 소청 심사가 시작되기도 전에 사실상 ‘기각 가이드라인’으로 읽힐 내부 지침성 문서를 내려보냈다”며, “기초단체장과 기초의원 선거 등 97건의 엄중한 법정 절차에 대해 결론을 미리 찍어 하달한 것은 선관위원들의 눈과 귀를 가리고 손발을 묶는 고압적 압박”이라고 비판했다. 이어 “이 ‘기각 각본’ 문서가 다른 시·도 선관위에도 배포되어 거역하기 어려운 절대적 지침으로 작동했을 것이 불 보듯 뻔하다”고 주장했다.
그러면서 “국민의 선거를 공정하게 관리하랬더니 자신들의 책임을 덮을 ‘방탄 시나리오’를 관리하고 있었던 것이냐”라며 “투표용지 부족 사태로 국민을 혼란에 빠뜨린 것도 모자라 소청 절차마저 뭉개고 덮으려 했다”고 꼬집었다. 아울러 “독립성과 공정성이 파탄 난 선관위 자체 절차로는 신뢰 회복이 불가능하므로 누가 이 문서를 작성하고 배포를 지시했는지 특검을 통해 철저히 밝혀야 한다”며, “중앙선관위는 참정권 참사의 책임 당사자로서 특검의 칼날 앞에 서는 것만이 국민 앞에 사죄하는 유일한 길”이라고 목소리를 높였다.
정보통신망법 개정안 부작용 지적
마지막으로, 최보윤 수석대변인은 민주당이 강행 처리한 정보통신망법 개정안이 시행 첫날부터 고소·고발을 예고하며 표현의 자유를 위협하는 재갈 물리기용 악법으로 전락한 현실을 경고했다. 최보윤 수석대변인은 “미 국무부조차 정보통신망법 개정안에 대해 표현의 자유를 훼손할 수 있다는 심각한 우려를 표하며 검열 수단으로 이용해서는 안 된다고 경고했다”며, “동맹국조차 대한민국의 디지털 환경이 검열의 장으로 전락할 것을 걱정하는 참담한 현실”이라고 비판했다. 이어 “정부는 플랫폼에 판단과 책임을 떠넘기는 제도를 밀어붙이고 있으며, 명확한 기준도 없이 플랫폼 사업자들에게 알아서 판단하라는 식의 숙제를 떠넘겼다”고 주장했다.
그러면서 “모호한 기준은 플랫폼 기업들로 하여금 법적 분쟁을 피하기 위한 ‘과잉 검열’을 선택하게 만들고, 결국 국민의 자유로운 목소리와 건강한 공론장을 위축시킬 것”이라며, “방미통위가 투명성센터 구축에 28억 원의 예비비 확보를 추진하는 것도 정권에 불리한 목소리를 솎아내는 현대판 검열 기구가 될 우려가 크다”고 꼬집었다. 아울러 “이재명 정부와 민주당은 표현의 자유를 희생하는 법으로는 국민과 국제사회의 신뢰를 얻을 수 없음을 엄중히 받아들여야 한다”며, “부작용을 인정하고 전면 개정에 즉각 응할 것을 강력히 촉구한다”고 덧붙였다. hang5247@hanmail.net
*아래는 위 기사를 '구글 번역'으로 번역한 영문 기사의 [전문]입니다. '구글번역'은 이해도 높이기를 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다.<*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation>
Chief Spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon: "Comprehensive Special Prosecutor, NEC Script, Silencing Law... A Threat to the Constitution"
- NEC self-destructs fairness with 'dismissal guidelines'
- Demand for amendment of the Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act is an insatiable greed for political retaliation targeting the administration
- Information and Communications Network Act, which even the U.S. State Department expressed concern over, must stop infringing on freedom of expression
— Lee Je-hang, Senior Reporter/Poet, Break News
On the 9th, Choi Bo-yoon, Chief Spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized the Comprehensive Special Prosecutor's demand for amendment of the Special Prosecutor Act, the NEC's issuance of a script for dismissing election appeals, and the negative consequences of the Information and Communications Network Act amendment pushed through by the Democratic Party. Defining these actions as a disruption of judicial justice, a disaster for suffrage rights, and an international disgrace, Chief Spokesperson Choi urged an immediate halt to acts that threaten the constitutional order and freedom of expression.
Choi Bo-yoon, Senior Spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated during a press briefing at the National Assembly Communication Center at 2:50 p.m. that “the extra-legal demands of the Comprehensive Special Counsel, the National Election Commission’s scripted guidelines for dismissal, and the amendment of the Information and Communications Network Act that stifles freedom of expression are acts that shake the Republic of Korea’s judicial system and democratic values to their roots.”
Criticism of the Demand for Amendment to the Comprehensive Special Counsel Act
First, Senior Spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon opened by pointing out the behavior of the Kwon Chang-young 2nd Comprehensive Special Counsel Team, which is demanding an amendment to the Special Counsel Act centered on increasing personnel and extending the deadline, just 15 days before the conclusion of the investigation. Senior Spokesperson Choi criticized, “This is an arrogant idea to elevate themselves into an all-powerful ‘permanent political retaliation agency’ while forgetting the exceptional nature and legal limitations of the special counsel system,” adding, “They have already scoured every corner for a cumulative 660 days; how long on earth do they intend to drag out this investigation?” He continued by arguing, “Special Prosecutor Kwon’s past remark that ‘the Special Joint Investigation Headquarters will likely need to run for three years’ was a confession of his true intention to continue political retaliation throughout his term, as he had no intention of completing the investigation within the deadline from the start.”
He added, “Despite pouring massive manpower and budget into it, the result shown by the Comprehensive Special Prosecutor is nothing but a mudslinging battle between separate investigations and the Special Prosecutor himself.” He criticized, “The court also put the brakes on the process by rejecting arrest warrants for as many as six people; is disrupting judicial justice through unreasonable and excessive investigation considered uncovering the truth?” Furthermore, he asserted, “Both the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s review report and the Budget Policy Office’s analysis concluded that the Special Prosecutor’s demands were a waste of taxpayer money with no real benefit and an extra-legal idea.” He argued, “What the Comprehensive Special Prosecutor must do during the remaining 15 days is not to make unreasonable demands, but simply to hand over the investigation to regular investigative agencies in accordance with legally prescribed procedures.”
Condemnation of the National Election Commission's Issuance of a "Script" for Election Appeals
Next, Chief Spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon addressed the situation in which three members of the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission submitted their resignations en masse, condemning the allegations that the National Election Commission (NEC) issued guidelines for dismissing election appeals prior to the review process. Chief Spokesperson Choi stated, "The NEC sent down an internal directive document that effectively reads as a 'rejection guideline' even before the appeal review had begun." She criticized the move, saying, "Predetermining the conclusions and issuing them for 97 serious legal procedures, including elections for heads of local governments and local council members, constitutes high-handed pressure that blinds and deafens the commissioners and ties their hands."
She further argued, "It is all too obvious that this 'dismissal script' document was distributed to other city and provincial election commissions and functioned as an absolute directive that was difficult to disobey." At the same time, he pointed out, “Were they managing a ‘bulletproof scenario’ to cover up their own responsibility when they were told to manage the people’s election fairly?” He added, “Not only did they throw the public into confusion due to the ballot paper shortage, but they also tried to obliterate and cover up the appeals process.” Furthermore, he raised his voice, stating, “Since it is impossible to restore trust through the National Election Commission’s own procedures, where independence and fairness have collapsed, a special prosecutor must thoroughly reveal who drafted this document and ordered its distribution.” He continued, “As the party responsible for the disaster regarding suffrage rights, the only way for the National Election Commission to apologize to the people is to stand before the sharp blade of the special prosecutor.”
Pointing out the side effects of the Information and Communications Network Act amendment
Finally, Chief Spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon warned of the reality that the amendment to the Information and Communications Network Act, which the Democratic Party pushed through, has degenerated into a wicked law intended to muzzle freedom of expression, with lawsuits and criminal complaints being threatened from the very first day of its implementation. Chief Spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon criticized the situation, stating, “Even the U.S. State Department expressed serious concerns that the amendment to the Information and Communications Network Act could undermine freedom of expression and warned that it must not be used as a means of censorship.” She added, “It is a deplorable reality that even an ally is worried that South Korea’s digital environment will degenerate into a venue for censorship.” She further argued, “The government is pushing through a system that shifts judgment and responsibility onto platforms, effectively dumping the homework on platform operators to make their own judgments without clear standards.”
She continued, “Ambiguous standards will force platform companies to resort to ‘excessive censorship’ to avoid legal disputes, ultimately stifling the free voices of the people and a healthy public sphere.” She pointed out, “The fact that the Committee on Communications and Trade is pushing to secure 2.8 billion won in reserve funds for the establishment of a Transparency Center also raises serious concerns that it will become a modern-day censorship body designed to weed out voices unfavorable to the administration.” Furthermore, they added, “The Lee Jae-myung administration and the Democratic Party must seriously accept that they cannot gain the trust of the people and the international community with laws that sacrifice freedom of expression,” and “we strongly urge them to acknowledge the negative consequences and immediately agree to a comprehensive revision.” hang5247@hanmail.net
