Moon Emphasizes 'Cooperation'... United Party Clashes Over Corruption Investigation Office and Hearings

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Although President Moon Jae-in emphasized 'cooperation' in his National Assembly opening speech, the United Future Party is expected to continue confrontation instead of cooperation by pointing out problems with the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC) and announcing a thorough scrutiny of National Intelligence Service Director nominee Park Ji-won and Unification Minister nominee Lee In-young.

The United Future Party's study group 'Geumsijjomun' invited lawyer Kim Jong-min from Dongin Law Firm on the morning of the 17th to listen to a lecture on the problems of establishing the HCIC and held a discussion. Lawyer Kim pointed out, "The Moon administration's prosecution reform is a 'Chinese-style public security governance model,'" adding, "The essence is a presidential direct surveillance and investigation agency (the HCIC)." He also noted that although it is a second prosecution agency, it belongs to neither the legislative, executive, nor judicial branches, calling it the birth of the 'Minbyun prosecution.'

Kim Seong-won, the floor deputy leader who attended the discussion, also stated on Facebook, "Prosecutors under the HCIC law can exercise authority not only over the executive, legislative, and judicial branches but also military prosecutors, which means there is a possibility of controlling and dominating the entire military." He raised his voice, saying, "Desirable prosecution reform is not the establishment of the HCIC but limiting the president's authority over prosecutor personnel appointments to prevent political power from interfering arbitrarily in prosecution investigations, and strengthening independence and accountability."

Earlier, President Moon requested cooperation for the HCIC, saying, "The launch date of the HCIC, as stipulated by law, has already passed," but the United Future Party plans to continue its offensive by raising constitutional issues regarding the HCIC. Floor leader Joo Ho-young also said to reporters immediately after the National Assembly opening speech on the 16th, "We are waiting for the constitutional review result of the HCIC," adding, "We are preparing for various scenarios, but that does not mean a change in our position on the HCIC law."

The party will also continue thorough scrutiny of Unification Minister nominee Lee In-young, who is under suspicion of his son's 'luxurious overseas study,' and National Intelligence Service Director nominee Park Ji-won, who is embroiled in controversies over his military service and academic background. On the 16th, the United Future Party launched a hearing advisory group for nominee Lee and began preparations for the hearing scheduled for the 23rd. At the same day's meeting of nominee Park's hearing advisory group, United Future Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung raised his voice, saying, "Nominee Park admitted that his military service while attending university was 'emperor service,'" adding, "This is not an issue to end here; we have confirmed grounds that suggest his university bachelor's degree was also obtained fraudulently."

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