Geum Tae-seop Supports Jang Hye-young Who Abstained on the Public Corruption Investigation Office Act Vote

Geum Tae-seop and Jang Hye-young: "No Prosecutorial Reform Without Democracy"

Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who left the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a lecture at the 'Myeongbulheojeon' meeting of first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 18th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As the amendment to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (PCC) Act passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 10th, former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who left the Democratic Party, supported Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young, who was the only one to abstain.

After the PCC Act amendment passed the National Assembly on that day, former lawmaker Geum posted on his Facebook titled "There is no prosecution reform without democracy." He shared Jang's post and wrote, "Supporting Assemblywoman Jang Hye-young."

Previously regarded as a representative principled member of the Democratic Party, former lawmaker Geum abstained from voting on the fast-track bill to establish the PCC in December last year and was disciplined (warned) by the party for violating the party line.

Former prosecutor Geum consistently opposed the establishment of the PCC and was the only ruling party lawmaker to abstain in the plenary vote at that time.

Jang Hye-young, a Justice Party lawmaker, is questioning during the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee's audit of the Gwangju Regional Tax Office, Bank of Korea Gwangju-Jeonnam Headquarters, and Mokpo Headquarters held on October 20 at the Government Gwangju Joint Office in Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Assemblywoman Jang also abstained from voting in the plenary session on the PCC Act amendment, not following the party line in favor. In a post on her Facebook that day, she explained her reason for abstaining, stating, "The PCC Act amendment, which nullifies the opposition party's veto power, undermines the principles of democracy."

She pointed out, "Prosecution reform for democracy must be carried out in the most democratic way," and emphasized, "There is no prosecution reform without democracy."

She continued, "It would have been right to cast a dissenting vote to leave the opposition of democrats, different from the People Power Party's strategic opposition and opposition for the sake of opposition, in the history of the National Assembly. However, I voted to abstain to respect the Justice Party's decision, to which I belong, and the party line in favor expressing a strong will for prosecution reform."

Assemblywoman Jang also said, "I made a painful decision against the party line to not be ashamed of the promise to perform my duties according to the conscience solemnly sworn before the Taegeukgi on the first day of the National Assembly term," and concluded, "As a party member, I understand the seriousness of the party line well. However, I firmly believe that maintaining the conviction to say no when it is no in light of conscience is also a precious value of the Justice Party, a party of democrats."

Earlier, the National Assembly held a plenary session that day and passed the PCC Act amendment with 287 members present, 187 in favor, 99 against, and 1 abstention. The bill relaxes the quorum for the PCC chief candidate recommendation committee from 6 out of 7 members to three-fifths, effectively nullifying the opposition party's veto power.

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