[Exclusive] Democratic Party to Propose Amendment to Public Corruption Investigation Office Act This Week... Park Beom-gye "Ready"

'Decision' as the Launch of the Corruption Investigation Office Delayed Due to Opposition from the People Power Party

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The Democratic Party of Korea plans to propose an amendment to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HCIO) Act this week. Park Beom-gye, a three-term lawmaker and former judge, has effectively prepared a draft representing the party. Although party leader Lee Nak-yeon has emphasized cooperation since his inauguration, the decision was made based on the judgment that the already delayed launch of the HCIO cannot be postponed any longer.

On the 8th, Park said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "The amendment to the HCIO Act will focus on resolving the issue of the HCIO launch being delayed because the People Power Party has not recommended members for the HCIO chief candidate recommendation committee," adding, "The bill is almost ready and will be submitted to the National Assembly within this week if possible."

He refrained from detailing the specific contents of the bill, but the core issue is how to change the composition requirements of the HCIO chief candidate recommendation committee, which currently stipulates 'two members recommended by opposition negotiation groups.' A realistic alternative is to allow the ruling party to recommend all members or to grant recommendation rights to opposition parties other than the People Power Party that are not negotiation groups. It may also assume cases where opposition negotiation groups refuse to recommend members.

The People Power Party, the only opposition negotiation group, has not made any recommendations, and the legally stipulated HCIO launch deadline (July 15) has already passed by about two months. Baek Hye-ryeon, the Democratic Party's Legislation and Judiciary Committee secretary, stated on the 2nd, "The Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the party leadership will discuss and decide on the contents of the HCIO Act amendment." The bill to be submitted by Park can be seen as a breakthrough at the party level. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min has already proposed a bill allowing 'four members to be recommended by the National Assembly regardless of party,' but this leaves room for further negotiation through future National Assembly rules. Park's bill is expected to be more specific.

In his speech as a representative of the negotiation groups in the National Assembly the day before, Lee emphasized cooperation overall but spoke strongly about the HCIO, saying, "If the National Assembly does not abide by a law passed by the Assembly just because I did not support it, that would be a self-denial of parliamentary democracy. It would send a dangerous signal that only laws passed unanimously must be obeyed."

This is read as a kind of final ultimatum. Kim Jong-min, senior supreme council member of the Democratic Party, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "We have been continuously communicating, and at one point it seemed the People Power Party would make recommendations, but there was no sincerity," adding, "It seems clear that they intend to delay and ultimately not comply, so we must respond accordingly."

Democratic Party lawmakers in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee set the end of last month as a deadline, and National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok also sent an official letter to the People Power Party last month requesting recommendations before the opening ceremony of the regular session (September 1).

The People Power Party, which pledged to abolish the HCIO as an election promise, has not changed its stance. Bae Jun-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said regarding Lee's speech the day before, "A small step toward cooperation has begun. We earnestly ask that the HCIO's reckless promotion be stopped." They see the HCIO issue as an obstacle to cooperation. Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo criticized on Facebook, "If the prosecution cannot be trusted and the HCIO is created to cover up their own failed real estate policies by making a real estate watchdog, then if the people cannot trust the Blue House, what new institution should be created?" and added, "The opposition has no reason to cooperate with that (HCIO) law."

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