Prosecutors' Office Act Agenda Coordination Committee Closed to Media... Opposition Party Asks, "Are You Afraid of Media Disclosure?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] As the amendment to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HCIO) Act is being discussed in the agenda coordination committee, the ruling party's resolution for a closed-door vote has drawn protests from the opposition party, which asked, "Are you afraid of media disclosure?"

The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee will hold an agenda coordination meeting on the morning of the 8th to discuss the HCIO Act amendment bill, which aims to nullify the opposition party's veto power over the HCIO chief.

The agenda coordination committee members include Democratic Party Whip Baek Hye-ryun, Park Beom-gye, and Kim Yong-min, People Power Party Whip Kim Do-eup and Yoo Sang-bum, and for the non-negotiating group, Open Democratic Party member Choi Kang-wook. Effectively, the ratio is 4 to 2 between the ruling and opposition parties. The meeting decided on a 4 to 2 vote for a closed-door decision.

In response, the opposition criticized the closed-door vote and protested in front of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Choi Hyung-doo, the People Power Party floor spokesperson, raised his voice, saying, "Why is such an important matter not disclosed? Both pen reporters and camera reporters were pushed out," and added, "Are they ignoring bipartisan discussions and trying to appoint an HCIO chief who listens only to them?"

Assemblyman Kim Do-eup said, "We are requesting Chairperson Park Beom-gye to make the agenda coordination meeting open," and added, "This is not a matter to request but a principle of the National Assembly Act that meetings should be open."

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