United Future Party Says "Not Interested in Lee Haechan's Threats"... Pressure Mounts Over Possible Democratic Push

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, reporters Lee Jieun and Kim Hyemin] Kim Chongin, Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee of the United Future Party, dismissed the remarks of Lee Haechan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who expressed his intention to push ahead with the launch of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) without opposition party cooperation, saying, "We are not interested in threats." He reiterated the party's existing stance that they would decide their position after the Constitutional Court's ruling on whether the law is unconstitutional.

On the morning of August 6, after a closed Emergency Response Committee meeting at the National Assembly, Chairman Kim told reporters, "Our floor leader is considering who would be suitable as a CIO chief recommendation committee member, but we are not particularly interested in Chairman Lee's threatening remarks." This was in response to Chairman Lee's statement at the Supreme Council meeting the previous day, where he emphasized, "The United Future Party must appoint a CIO chief recommendation committee member and fulfill its legal responsibility before the August session of the National Assembly begins. If not, we will take other measures." As the United Future Party has refused to appoint a recommendation committee member, citing the unconstitutionality of the CIO Act, the launch of the CIO, originally scheduled for July 15, has been significantly delayed.

The United Future Party is reviewing potential committee members internally but maintains an ambiguous stance, saying, "There is not enough time." A party official stated, "It will take a considerable amount of time to appoint a recommendation committee member," and added, "While discussions to identify candidates may take place, the process will take time." In other words, while internal review is possible, the actual appointment will require more time. This contrasts with the ruling party, which has already appointed two recommendation committee members.

For now, the United Future Party's official position is to wait for the Constitutional Court's decision. On August 5, party spokesperson Bae Junyoung stated in an oral briefing, "Although the CIO-related law passed the plenary session, the United Future Party did not agree to it," and added, "Furthermore, the CIO is an extralegal body without constitutional grounds, and the Constitutional Court is currently reviewing a constitutional petition. We ask Chairman Lee to refrain from further action until the results are announced."

However, there is significant pressure from Chairman Lee's suggestion of even amending the law. In fact, during the last National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting, a provision was discussed and ultimately omitted that would have allowed the Speaker to designate a negotiating bloc to recommend a committee member if no appointment was made within the deadline. This effectively would have stripped the United Future Party of its veto power, raising the possibility that the Democratic Party could push for such a revision again in the August session through a legislative amendment.

On the same day, United Future Party lawmaker Hong Moonpyo appeared on TBS's "Kim Eojun's News Factory" and criticized Chairman Lee, saying, "Chairman Lee said, 'If it is not done by August, we will take extraordinary measures.' This is an implicit statement that they will do this even by amending the law," and called it a "dictatorial mindset." He added, "Even if it takes a bit more time, it is better to wait for the Constitutional Court's response to our inquiry, and for the ruling and opposition parties to pool their wisdom and find a way to work together. This is what we are hoping for."

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