[Exclusive] Democratic Party to Launch Corruption Investigation Office Chief Recommendation Committee Next Week Despite United Future Party's Absence

Judged Possible to Launch Even Without United Party Recommendation

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae (seventh from the left), Nam Ki-myung, Head of the Preparatory Task Force for the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (sixth from the left), and Lee Chan-hee, President of the Korean Bar Association (eighth from the left), are posing for a commemorative photo on the afternoon of the 25th at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry International Conference Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul, during the public hearing on "Directions for Establishing the Corruption Investigation Office to Launch as an Advanced Investigation Agency." Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The Democratic Party of Korea processed the 3rd supplementary budget on the 3rd and decided to immediately form the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office Chief (Public Official Corruption Investigation Office Chief, or POCI Chief) candidate recommendation committee next week. Even if the United Future Party does not participate, the plan is to launch the committee with five members, including ex officio members such as the Minister of Justice and recommendation members from the ruling party.

Baek Hye-ryun, the ruling party's floor leader on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and a Democratic Party lawmaker, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 2nd, "The POCI Chief candidate recommendation committee is composed of seven members according to the POCI Act, including two members from opposition negotiation groups. However, if the United Future Party does not make recommendations, the Democratic Party believes that the committee can still be launched with just five members." She added, "If the 3rd supplementary budget passes the plenary session on the 3rd, we plan to immediately begin forming the candidate recommendation committee for the POCI Chief."

Just as the National Assembly's standing committees operate even without the United Future Party's participation, the candidate recommendation committee for the POCI Chief can also be convened with only ruling party members if unavoidable. The United Future Party regards the passage of the POCI Act at the end of last year as a 'rush' and does not recognize it, having even filed a constitutional complaint.

The Minister of Justice, the Chief of the Court Administration, and the President of the Korean Bar Association are ex officio recommendation members by virtue of their positions. The Democratic Party plans to form the recommendation committee including two ruling party members and start discussions while awaiting the United Future Party's participation. According to the POCI Act, six out of seven committee members must agree to recommend a candidate to the President, so unless the law is amended, launching the POCI will be difficult. Nevertheless, they intend to form the committee first and proceed with negotiations. Amending the POCI Act is also not ruled out as a last resort.

Representative Baek said, "If the committee is formed and discussions begin, the United Future Party may criticize it, but they will also be conscious of public opinion accusing them of 'stalling'." She added, "Amending the POCI Act is not something to be done now; it is an issue to be judged later." However, there is a possibility that Speaker Park Byeong-seug may delay forming the committee somewhat by refusing to accept a recommendation committee without the United Future Party and attempting to mediate dialogue.

President Moon Jae-in sent an official letter requesting the National Assembly to recommend candidates for the POCI Chief on the 24th of last month, and Speaker Park requested the Democratic Party and the United Future Party to appoint committee members on the 1st. The POCI Act was enacted on January 14th and stipulates that it will be enforced six months after its passage.

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