Joo Ho-young on Ruling Party's Demand to Withdraw Recommendation for Corruption Investigation Office Member: "I Will Defend It with All My Might"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] On the 27th, Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, responded to the Democratic Party's demand to withdraw the nomination of opposition party members for the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) recommendation committee, citing qualification issues, saying, "I am utterly shocked by the idea of removing someone just because they don't like them," and added, "If the Democratic Party takes such an attitude, I myself will stand firm and block it with all my might."

Joo attended the party meeting held at the National Assembly that afternoon and sharply criticized, saying, "They are arrogantly trying to even control our party's nominations."

On the same day in the morning, the People Power Party officially recommended lawyer Lim Jeong-hyeok, a former deputy prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and lawyer Lee Heon from the Korea Legal Aid Corporation as opposition party members for the HCIA chief recommendation committee.

The Democratic Party immediately opposed, questioning their backgrounds. Lee Nak-yeon, the Democratic Party leader, seemed concerned that they might exercise veto power to deliberately delay the recommendation indefinitely, warning, "If they try to misuse this as a means to block the launch of the HCIA, we will not stand idly by." Chief spokesperson Choi In-ho demanded withdrawal, and Kim Yong-min, a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, requested Speaker Park Byeong-seok to 'reject' the nominations.

In response, Joo said, "The Democratic Party shamelessly says they will change the recommendation rules in the provisions if veto power is exercised," and criticized, "Those who repeatedly insisted that veto power guarantees that the nominees would never be people favored by the president are now thinking of removing them from the recommendation just because they don't like them."

He added, "You can't say such things unless you treat the people like fools. If the Democratic Party acts like that, I am determined to block it with all my body myself."

Joo emphasized, "The core of the HCIA chief is whether they can investigate neutrally and independently and whether they have any flaws," and said, "I hope they find candidates whom we will not veto."

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