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[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] As the Blue House once again urges the National Assembly to recommend a candidate for the head of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Gong-su-cheo), the opposition party has strongly opposed it, causing the political sphere to already seem shaken. Even if the ruling and opposition parties agree on the organization of the National Assembly on the 29th, the possibility of Gong-su-cheo becoming another trigger for a 'parliamentary deadlock' has increased.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

With the legal launch deadline of Gong-su-cheo about two weeks away, the ruling and opposition parties have yet to form the candidate recommendation committee for the Gong-su-cheo chief, continuing a tense standoff. Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the Supreme Council meeting that day, "The United Future Party must fulfill its legal obligations," adding, "If the United Future Party obstructs, we will swiftly launch Gong-su-cheo through extraordinary measures, including revising the Gong-su-cheo law." He expressed his determination to push forward with the launch of Gong-su-cheo despite strong opposition from the opposition party.

The United Future Party's opposition is intensifying. On the 28th, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, criticized on Facebook, "Ordering Gong-su-cheo to be launched by July 15 is another administrative order from the president," and said, "We cannot allow a monstrous judicial body, free from parliamentary oversight, to fall under the president's control."

Since the right to recommend candidates for the Gong-su-cheo chief lies with the National Assembly, the ruling and opposition parties must form a recommendation committee and recommend two candidates to the president. The president then nominates one of them and appoints the Gong-su-cheo chief after a confirmation hearing. The United Future Party has the right to nominate two of the seven members of the recommendation committee. Therefore, if the United Future Party boycotts and refuses to recommend candidates, it is highly likely that the formation of the recommendation committee, the initial stage of Gong-su-cheo's launch, will face difficulties.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea has begun preparing countermeasures against the United Future Party's time-delay strategy. On the 1st, Democratic Party lawmaker Baek Hye-ryun proposed a bill allowing the Speaker of the National Assembly to designate negotiation groups and request candidate recommendations if the opposition party fails to recommend Gong-su-cheo chief candidates by the deadline. Lee's determination to push forward with Gong-su-cheo's launch appears to have been made with this bill in mind.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Blue House also lent its support. On the 28th, Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok said in a briefing, "The deadline for Gong-su-cheo's launch is not just set but firmly established," adding, "This means the Blue House did not arbitrarily set the deadline. The Blue House's position is that the National Assembly should follow the legally prescribed procedures." He made it clear that since this is a matter set by the National Assembly, it must be resolved by the National Assembly. In line with this, the Blue House revealed that President Moon Jae-in sent an official letter to National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug on the 26th requesting the recommendation of Gong-su-cheo chief candidates.

In response, opposition backlash is intensifying, and a standoff and deadlock between the ruling and opposition parties are expected to continue. Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the United Future Party, targeted Kang's briefing, saying, "It is even harder to agree with the Blue House's sophistry that the United Future Party participated in the discussions," and criticized, "After monopolizing the standing committee chairmanships, are you now trying to make the opposition kneel even on the right to recommend candidates for the Gong-su-cheo chief recommendation committee?"

Meanwhile, former Minister of Justice Park Sang-ki said on MBC radio that day regarding the United Future Party's opposition, "Although there was strong opposition and no agreement, it is still a law passed by the National Assembly," and pointed out, "There must be respect for laws passed by the National Assembly." Park also hinted at the need to revise the law, citing changes in the National Assembly's situation since the Gong-su-cheo law was enacted.

He said, "When the Gong-su-cheo law was created, it was assumed that there were two opposition floor negotiation groups," adding, "In effect, it gave the United Future Party a veto right in personnel matters. This issue must be resolved in the National Assembly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.