"Lawmakers Acting Like Moon's Cha Ji-chul," Jin Joong-kwon Criticizes 'Park Hyung-soon Prohibition Act'

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized on the 24th the so-called 'Park Hyung-soon Prohibition Act' proposed by Lee Won-wook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, saying, "The legislative activity itself has degenerated into a tactical maneuver based on agitational politics."

In a post on his Facebook that day, former professor Jin said, "All the lawmakers are acting like Moon Jae-in's Cha Ji-chul," and pointed out, "It is a big problem that lawmakers who make laws completely lack a 'legal mind' (legal way of thinking)."

Earlier, on the 15th, Representative Lee proposed the 'Park Hyung-soon Prohibition Act,' named after the judge who approved the Gwanghwamun rally. This bill includes provisions that assemblies or demonstrations in areas where traffic blockades or assembly restrictions have been imposed under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act or in disaster areas under the Disaster and Safety Management Act are, in principle, prohibited.

Former professor Jin continued, "It is not a matter to criticize judges who follow the law. They were just doing their job," and pointed out, "However, within the Democratic Party, judges are being insulted as 'pansaes' (judge bastards), inciting petitions for dismissal, and even trying to amend laws."

He argued, "If the law is so flawed that new legislation is truly necessary, it means that prohibiting assemblies exceeds the discretionary scope allowed to judges by law," adding, "In other words, such rulings would be illegal. Criticizing judges for having to make such illegal rulings is an act that destroys the rule of law itself."

He also added, "The Park Hyung-soon Prohibition Act grants emergency powers to the government to arbitrarily ban assemblies they dislike during the period when the virus is spreading. Ultimately, this leads to a situation where the constitutional rights of the people are routinely restricted."

Former professor Jin concluded by criticizing this course of action as characteristic of the Democratic Party and the regime itself, saying, "This is why The Economist pointed out that the liberal regime is internally authoritarian."

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