"Depends on Yoon's Will and People Power's Attitude" Park Hong-geun's Regime Filled with Political Landmines

Park Hong-geun "Talked with President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, Demanded Active Communication with the National Assembly"
"Will Ensure Checks and Balances, Expand Cooperation Intersection... No Party in Livelihood Issues"
Clash Inevitable with People Power Party Trying to Seize Political Initiative

Park Hong-geun, Chairman of the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee, is presiding over the Adjustment Subcommittee of the 2021 2nd Supplementary Budget Bill at the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee held at the National Assembly on the 20th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The Democratic Party of Korea, which elected Park Hong-geun as the new floor leader, is expected to form a sharp confrontation with the Yoon Seok-yeol administration over prosecution, media, and political reform bills, special prosecutors, and amendments to the government organization act. Floor Leader Park stated, "The new setting between the ruling and opposition parties entirely depends on the will of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol," setting a confrontational tone from the first day of his term.

Amid rising tensions due to the controversy over relocating the presidential office to Yongsan and the power struggle between the old and new authorities over President Moon Jae-in's personnel rights, the launch of the 'Park Hong-geun administration,' which advocates a 'strong opposition party,' signals the beginning of the Democratic Party's hardline struggle stance.

In his remarks at the emergency committee meeting on the 25th, the new floor leader Park mentioned a phone call with President-elect Yoon, saying, "I requested President-elect Yoon to actively communicate with the National Assembly." Park emphasized, "I will meet with Floor Leader Kim Ki-hyun as soon as possible to present livelihood reform plans including supplementary budgets and discuss political reforms," adding, "We will not give up on either livelihood or reform and will strive to achieve results."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A lone protester is urging prosecutorial reform on the 10th in front of the Gyeonggi Government Gwacheon Complex, where the Ministry of Justice's disciplinary committee for Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is scheduled. In the background, condolence wreaths condemning the Ministry of Justice and Minister Choo Mi-ae are visible. Photo by Kim Hyun-min, Gwacheon kimhyun81@

Above all, the 'Complete Removal of Prosecution's Investigation Rights (Geomsu Wanbak)' included in the prosecution reform legislation is expected to become a hot issue immediately. Hardline party members, mainly supporters of Lee Jae-myung, strongly demand the completion of prosecution reform from the 3rd floor leadership, fearing retaliatory investigations by the Yoon administration. This has become a necessary task to manage the party shaken by the aftermath of the presidential election defeat and to rally supporters and party members.

In a press conference the previous day, Floor Leader Park emphasized regarding prosecution reform, "The majority of the public has agreed on prosecution reform. It may take time to achieve actual results, but we must not shake the plans that have been difficultly advanced." He added, "Prosecution reform itself is an inevitable trend of the times," and said, "The ruling and opposition parties must put their heads together on this issue. We must achieve results in the direction the public desires."

The same voice is echoed within the party. On the same day, Emergency Committee Chairperson Yoon Ho-jung directly criticized the transition team for refusing the Ministry of Justice's work report during the morning meeting, calling it a "petty behavior." Yoon said, "The prosecution's investigation directive authority is the last check to prevent prosecution's runaway," and added, "The Democratic Party will immediately convene the Judiciary Committee to uncover the conspiracy to worsen the prosecution system." Park Joo-min, the ruling party's Judiciary Committee secretary, also appeared on a radio show and harshly criticized the transition team, saying, "It seems like they are trying to tame the Ministry of Justice."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Along with this, the party plans to strongly push for ▲ the second supplementary budget for COVID-19 damage compensation ▲ the introduction of a special prosecutor for the Daejang-dong case ▲ and political reform tasks, making a clash with the next ruling party inevitable. Except for the second supplementary budget, most issues are opposed by the People Power Party. Additionally, significant difficulties are expected over the personnel hearings for the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the government organization act reform, including the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Regarding the Daejang-dong special prosecutor, there are large differences between the ruling and opposition parties in terms of investigation scope and subject, and the People Power Party opposes the introduction of a multi-member district system for local councilors, making consensus difficult.

With the election of Floor Leader Park, an early appearance of former candidate Lee Jae-myung also seems possible. This is because the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction's control of the party leadership is becoming visible ahead of the August party convention, which will elect the party leader who exercises the nomination rights for the 22nd general election. There is growing speculation that Lee will challenge the party leadership starting with support for the local elections. A first-term Democratic Party lawmaker said, "During the presidential election, a significant portion of the pro-Moon Jae-in camp shifted to the Lee Jae-myung faction," adding, "The appearance of Senior Advisor Lee in August will happen as the party demands, regardless of his own will."

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