Democrats Pressure Speaker Park: "Judiciary Committee Decision Today, Plenary Vote Tomorrow"

Holding the afternoon committee meeting and starting full-scale review
Aiming to pass the plenary session by the 29th at the latest

Democratic Party of Korea Co-Interim Chairman Yoon Ho-jung and Floor Leader Park Hong-geun are seen conversing at the 86th General Assembly of National Assembly Members held in the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 26th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Democratic Party of Korea is accelerating efforts to complete the 'April legislation' of the 'Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights (Geomsu Wanbak)' bill. The Democratic Party regards the People Power Party's demand for reconsideration as a 'breach of agreement' and believes it has gained sufficient 'legislative momentum' for unilateral passage, thus speeding up related procedures.

On the 26th at around 2 p.m., the Democratic Party resumed the first subcommittee of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee to review the bill separating the prosecution's investigation and indictment rights. Based on Speaker Park Byeong-seok's mediation proposal, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, after expert review, prepared a revised amendment draft and began serious negotiations with the People Power Party.

At 3 p.m., the Democratic Party convened an emergency party caucus to discuss responses to the People Power Party's demand for reconsideration. After the caucus, they moved to the Rotunda Hall and held a rally condemning the 'breach of agreement' targeting the People Power Party and President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol. Earlier that morning, the meeting between the floor leaders of both parties, chaired by Speaker Park, failed to find common ground, prompting preparations for unilateral passage.

Park Hong-geun, the Democratic Party floor leader, stated in his opening remarks at the caucus, "We will complete the power institution reform legislation as promised to the people," adding, "We will proceed with the Legislation and Judiciary Committee today without fail based on the bipartisan agreement and strongly demand the convening of the plenary session tomorrow to carry out the legislative process." In a subsequent briefing, he emphasized, "We confirmed again at the caucus that the April legislation must be handled according to the agreement reached by both parties on the Speaker's mediation proposal," and "We will finish the committee review today and vote in the plenary session tomorrow to fulfill our promise."

Park also revealed that a re-adjusted proposal partially accepting the People Power Party's demands was presented but rejected. The Speaker's mediation proposal temporarily leaves only corruption and economic crimes among the six major crimes under the prosecution's direct investigation authority to the prosecution, but the People Power Party requested additional suspension, suggesting that election crimes among public official and election crimes could remain. By disclosing this behind-the-scenes negotiation, the Democratic Party appears to emphasize that it made concessions but the People Power Party did not accept them, thereby securing legitimacy for passing the bill within April.

The Democratic Party plans to hold a plenary session by the 29th at the latest to finalize the bill through coordination with Speaker Park. Kim Seong-hwan, the policy committee chairman, said at a press conference, "The prosecution normalization legislation must be approved at the last Cabinet meeting of the Moon Jae-in administration on May 3, so counting backward, there is not much time left," adding, "Ideally, the bill should be handled today in the subcommittee and the full Legislation and Judiciary Committee."

Considering this tight schedule, the Democratic Party is preparing for unilateral passage if the People Power Party ultimately refuses to agree. However, they intend to pursue legislation based on the Speaker's mediation proposal rather than the original Democratic Party draft to maintain legitimacy and seek the Speaker's cooperation. A party official stated, "Since both parties accepted Speaker Park's final mediation proposal through the party caucus, we will clearly maintain the stance that it is the National Assembly's duty to uphold the agreement." Senior lawmaker Kim Min-seok also recalled on social media that in 2005, when the opposition rejected the bipartisan mediation proposal on the Private School Act, the Democratic Party introduced a tougher amendment, leading to a parliamentary deadlock, emphasizing that "the prosecution reform law should be passed based on the Speaker's mediation proposal."

Since President Moon Jae-in expressed the opinion the day before that it is desirable for both parties to agree and pass the bill based on Speaker Park's mediation proposal, there is growing momentum inside and outside the party to handle the Speaker's mediation proposal.

The Democratic Party has begun pressuring Speaker Park for a decision. They emphasize that the People Power Party is the party breaking the 'agreement' that Speaker Park stressed when preparing the mediation proposal and insist on completing legislation based on the Speaker's mediation proposal, repeatedly requesting that the legislative schedule proceed as planned. Park Hong-geun urged, "Now, I hope the Speaker will not waver. You promised the public to stand on the side of the party that finally accepted the mediation proposal, and you know well the weight of the agreement that was difficult for both parties to approve through the party caucus. Now, you must convene the plenary session and pass the bill."

Park also emphasized at the meeting of floor leaders chaired by Speaker Park that day that the Democratic Party has no choice but to proceed according to the existing agreement and again requested the plenary session be convened on the 27th.

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