Ruling Party and Judiciary Committee Members: "If United Party Does Not Appoint Public Corruption Investigation Office Recommendation Committee by August, Legal Amendments Will Follow"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Members of the Democratic Party of Korea belonging to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee stated that if the United Future Party does not appoint a High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HOCI) chief recommendation committee member by the end of this month, a legal amendment will be inevitable.

Baek Hyeryun, the committee's secretary from the Democratic Party, held a press conference on the 24th at the National Assembly with Park Jumin, Kim Jongmin, So Byeongcheol, and Choi Gisang, saying, "If there is no visible movement by the end of August, we can only think that the United Future Party does not intend to launch the HOCI," and added, "The only practical way to launch the HOCI is through legal amendment."

Park also said, "I strongly urge that the task of recommending candidates for the HOCI chief be completed within August," and "The process should proceed so that the HOCI chief candidate is decided within September." Kim said, "I know that the United Future Party opposed the HOCI law," but added, "While respecting their opinion, once legislation is passed, the law must be followed." Earlier, on the 23rd, National Assembly Speaker Park Byeongseok also requested the United Future Party via official letter to appoint the HOCI chief candidate recommendation committee members by the end of this month.

Meanwhile, the HOCI chief candidate recommendation committee consists of seven members: three ex officio members including the Minister of Justice, the Chief of the Court Administration, and the President of the Korean Bar Association, and four members recommended by the National Assembly's negotiating groups?two each from the Democratic Party and the United Future Party. The United Future Party maintains the position that the results of the constitutional court lawsuit filed prior to the appointment of recommendation committee members must be obtained first.

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