President Moon drives power agency reform with unified 12-election leader at the forefront

Afternoon of the 21st: Park Ji-won, Chu Mi-ae, Jin Young hold Cheongwadae strategy meeting... Public Corruption Investigation Office refocuses political landscape, ruling and opposition parties tense

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in's decision to hold a strategic meeting for the 'reform' of power institutions ahead of Chuseok is an expression of his determination to complete unfinished national tasks such as the operation of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC). The '2nd National Intelligence Service, Prosecution, and Police Reform Strategic Meeting' chaired by President Moon on the afternoon of the 21st is the first meeting in 1 year and 7 months since February last year.

This reflects confidence that issues such as the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and controversies surrounding Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae can be overcome. A senior Blue House official explained, "It is not appropriate to see this meeting as empowering any particular individual," adding, "It is an event to secure momentum for the reform of power institutions."

Notably, the heads of power institutions standing beside President Moon?Director Park Ji-won of the National Intelligence Service (3 terms), Minister Choo (5 terms), and Minister Jin Young of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (4 terms)?have a combined total of 12 terms in the National Assembly. Heads of institutions with rich political experience are generally regarded more favorably in terms of political acumen and policy execution ability than ordinary public officials.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

It is widely interpreted that President Moon calling Minister Choo to the Blue House during a sensitive period and standing alongside Director Park and Minister Jin also carries political significance. It can be understood as entrusting them with the important task of completing the core national agenda of power institution reform and signaling unwavering trust. President Moon is expected to reiterate the reasons and necessity for power institution reform in his opening remarks at the strategic meeting.

At the strategic meeting, not only will the Democratic Party's floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon and policy committee chair Han Jeong-ae attend, but also National Assembly standing committee chairs such as Yoon Ho-jung, chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee; Seo Young-kyo, chair of the Administration and Security Committee; and Jeon Hae-cheol, chair of the Political Affairs Committee. This creates a picture of the ruling party, government, and Blue House uniting their efforts for power institution reform.

The National Intelligence Service's reform tasks include the transfer of counterintelligence investigation authority and the abolition of domestic intelligence authority. Regarding the prosecution and police, the focus is expected to be on the adjustment of investigative authority between prosecution and police and the issue of autonomous police. Ministers Choo and Jin are scheduled to announce the discussion results through a joint government briefing after the strategic meeting. The main focus of interest remains the HCIC issue.

On the 4th, the National Assembly plenary session approved the amendment to the Public Officials Corruption Investigation Office Chief Recommendation Committee with 186 votes in favor and 2 against out of 188 members present. On the same day, the plenary session also passed the three follow-up bills for the establishment of the Public Officials Corruption Investigation Office, including the amendment to the Personnel Hearing Act and the amendment to the National Assembly Act. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

The ruling party raising the HCIC as a political issue has heightened tensions in the National Assembly. On the 21st, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Jong-min said at the ruling party's supreme council meeting, "For the first time in constitutional history, the law cannot be enforced due to the power of a single party, the People Power Party," adding, "We will launch a fully operational HCIC through legal amendments." Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Dong-geun also pressured the opposition by citing suspicions about Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, urging, "Cooperate quickly for the establishment of the HCIC for investigations without sanctuary."

At the full meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee that day, a large number of prosecution reform bills were submitted, including the partial amendment bill of the 'Act on the Establishment and Operation of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit' proposed by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min and the partial amendment bill of the Prosecutors' Office Act. These bills mainly propose that the National Assembly, instead of negotiation groups, recommend four members of the HCIC chief candidate recommendation committee.

The People Power Party has been delaying the appointment of HCIC chief candidate recommendation committee members, arguing that the Presidential Special Inspection Officer (Special Inspector) should be selected before the HCIC. Democratic Party lawmakers Baek Hye-ryun and Park Beom-gye also proposed bills allowing the appointment of the president of the Korean Law Professors Association and the director of the Council of Law Schools as committee members instead of the opposition's two recommended members, but these were not submitted on the day as the deliberation period had not passed.

The ruling party's push to amend the HCIC Act to have the National Assembly, rather than negotiation groups, recommend HCIC chief candidates has met with strong opposition from the People Power Party.

While the Democratic Party insists on activating the HCIC even if it means changing the law, the People Power Party criticizes the HCIC itself as a 'tool for oppressing the opposition.' On the 21st, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun said in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "If investigations are conducted on the living power, they are ruthlessly demoted or forced to resign, and if the living power is favored, they are promoted?this is the pattern of this administration," adding, "The HCIC is intended to make it a hunting dog of power."

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