Kim Jongin: "Ruling Party's Deterioration of CIO Act Will Face Public Resistance"

Kim Jongin Criticizes Ruling Party’s Push for CIO Act Revision
Warns, “Ignoring Public Sentiment and Abusing State Affairs Has Clear Consequences”
Calls for Bipartisan Agreement and End to Legislative Overreach

Kim Jongin, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

[Asia Economy, Lee Jieun and Lim Chunhan] Kim Jongin, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea on December 7 for pushing to revise the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) Act. He stated, "If the ruling party ignores the opposition, its legislative partner, and goes against due process and common sense, it will face public resistance," adding, "The 70-year history of our Constitution clearly shows what happens when public sentiment is ignored and state affairs are abused."

During the Emergency Response Committee meeting that day, Kim urged, "The Democratic Party should immediately stop legislative dictatorship and recommend the most suitable candidate for CIO chief through bipartisan agreement."

Kim pointed out, "The current CIO Act was unilaterally passed by the Democratic Party, even mobilizing the fast-track process. At the time, the Democratic Party allowed the opposition veto, saying the most suitable candidate for CIO chief should be recommended through bipartisan agreement. However, now the Democratic Party is pushing through a worsened version of the CIO Act that completely removes the opposition's veto. The ruling party is blatantly revealing its dark intention to appoint a pro-government figure as CIO chief."

He continued, "There is widespread public criticism that the government is trying to exert its influence over the CIO and turn it into a tool of the administration," and added, "If the Democratic Party did not regard the opposition as merely a parliamentary advisory body, it would not have even considered such legislative overreach."

Kim strongly warned the Democratic Party and the Moon Jae-in administration, saying, "Power does not last forever. Abandon the political illusion that you will rule forever, recognize the limits of your administration, and govern with common sense."

After the Emergency Response Committee meeting, Kim responded to reporters regarding opposition voices against issuing a public apology for the imprisonment and convictions of former presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, saying, "I will act according to my own judgment," and, "I will not be swayed."

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