People’s Party: “CIO Will Become President Moon’s Lapdog... Stench of Corruption Pervades”

"The Neutrality of Every CIO Case Will Be Called Into Question"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, reporter Lim Chunhan] On December 7, the People’s Party criticized the Democratic Party of Korea for pushing to amend the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) Act, stating, “President Moon Jae-in and the Democratic Party are escalating tensions in the National Assembly by declaring their intention to launch the CIO, which will become their lapdog, within this year at all costs.”

Floor leader Kwon Eunhee, along with lawmakers Lee Taekyu and Choi Yeonsook, issued a press release on the same day, saying, “With the authority to transfer investigations, the CIO could take over ongoing corruption cases involving those in power from the prosecution and let them languish in its cabinet. It could also legally place the judiciary under surveillance, making it sensitive to the administration’s wishes. The urgent drive to establish such a CIO, which contradicts the spirit and values of the Constitution, reeks of the current administration’s corrupt corners.”

They pointed out, “The Supreme Court, the last bastion of the rule of law, has taken the unusual step of expressing concern over the Democratic Party’s proposed amendments to the CIO Act, stating that ‘supplementation and improvement are needed.’ However, these concerns are echoing in vain.”

They continued, “During the 20th National Assembly, when the establishment of the CIO was discussed, the ruling party at the time promised that the opposition would have the right to appoint two members of the recommendation committee, ensuring the opposition’s veto power. They also promised that no candidate for CIO chief could be appointed without opposition approval. The Democratic Party’s deception and arrogance have rendered the legislative authority of the National Assembly powerless, opening a new era in which all legislative outcomes become subject to constitutional review. This will remain a lasting stain on our constitutional history.”

They added, “After the CIO is launched following the passage of the amendments, the neutrality of every case it handles will be called into question. Therefore, all cases handled by the CIO will become subject to special prosecution. The need to investigate the background of every case dismissed by the CIO will be recognized, and any CIO prosecutor who dismisses a case will become a target of prosecution by the regular prosecutors.”

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