With "18th as the Deadline" Opposition: "Why Rush to Meet the Deadline Hastily?"

Before the 3rd Meeting of the Recommendation Committee for the Chief of the Corruption Investigation Office, Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The ruling and opposition parties continued their tense exchanges over the weekend ahead of the 3rd meeting of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) Chief Candidate Recommendation Committee scheduled for the 18th.

Shin Young-dae, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a briefing on the 15th, "Last Friday, the HCIA Chief Candidate Recommendation Committee held a marathon meeting but failed to narrow down the candidates to two," adding, "The opposition party is using the excuse that thorough verification is necessary."

He stated, "Considering the attitude shown by the People Power Party from the passage of the HCIA Act to the HCIA Chief Candidate Recommendation Committee, this is an excuse that infinitely disregards the people," and added, "The public will remember the People Power Party as the party that challenged the people's sovereignty by using the prosecution during the HCIA's launch process."

A Democratic Party Judiciary Committee official said, "The HCIA Chief Candidate Recommendation Committee meeting scheduled for the 18th should be the final meeting," and added, "If the meeting on the 18th ends without progress, we will have no choice but to begin reviewing amendments to the HCIA Act."

The Democratic Party plans to actively review amendments to the HCIA Act that would effectively nullify the opposition's 'veto power' if no conclusion is reached in the 3rd meeting. The amendment to the HCIA Act, led by Democratic Party lawmaker Baek Hye-ryun, is currently pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a verbal comment, "Is there some untold story that requires rushing to meet the deadline for the important HCIA that aims to eradicate corruption?" and criticized, "This is evidence of the current administration's anxiety and fear." She also dismissed criticisms that the opposition is deliberately delaying as "obstruction of the recommendation committee's activities."

Meanwhile, Seok Dong-hyun, a lawyer recommended by the People Power Party as a candidate for HCIA Chief, wrote on Facebook that the delay in forming the recommendation committee is ironic, stating, "The main investigation targets of the HCIA are the key figures and their families in the government and ruling party currently in charge of state affairs. Yet, the ruling party is actively supporting the establishment of the HCIA, while the opposition, who should be benefiting from this situation, is passive. It's ironic."

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