'Geomsu Wanbak Law' Passes Judiciary Committee Subcommittee... Minjoo Party Unilaterally Approves, Gukim Opposes

Democratic Party's Revised Mediation Proposal Passed
Prosecutors' Election Crime Investigation Rights Suspension Deferred Until Year-End

People Power Party Strongly Opposes as "Nominal Agreement"
Full Meeting Scheduled at 9 PM, 'Forceful Proceeding' Expected

Park Ju-min, the Democratic Party whip and the first subcommittee chairman of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, answering reporters' questions after the subcommittee meeting held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 26th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The so-called 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecutorial investigative authority) bill passed the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee subcommittee on the 26th.

The Democratic Party of Korea unilaterally approved the amendments to the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act at around 7:10 p.m. during the bill review subcommittee meeting, while the People Power Party had walked out. This came 1 hour and 40 minutes after the subcommittee resumed following a recess due to the People Power Party's opposition. The ruling and opposition parties, which had a 'preliminary battle' in a late-night meeting the previous day, resumed the subcommittee meeting at 2 p.m. but made no progress amid repeated tensions.

The Democratic Party defined the People Power Party's demand for renegotiation of the Park Byeong-seok Speaker's mediation proposal as a 'breach of agreement' and accelerated the legislative process to push the bill through. The People Power Party counterattacked by revealing their own amendment proposal brought by the Democratic Party, claiming that the Democratic Party was the party that broke the agreement. The Democratic Party's proposal limits the scope of prosecutorial investigations to two of the six major crimes?corruption and economic crimes?as per the existing agreement, while accepting the Justice Party's suggestion to leave the investigative authority over election crimes with the prosecution until the end of the year.

As the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties continued, the Democratic Party unilaterally passed their proposal while the People Power Party collectively walked out. The People Power Party immediately protested. Assemblyman Yoo Sang-beom told reporters in front of the meeting room, "Since the public criticizes Geomsu Wanbak, they have completely stripped prosecutors of their supplementary investigative authority through such a devious detour," adding, "It is only nominally an agreement but effectively Geomsu Wanbak. We will use all legal means to block it."

The Democratic Party plans to hold a full Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting at 9 p.m. to process the bill. Park Gwang-on, the Democratic Party member and chair of the committee, told reporters, "In the full meeting, alternative debates and detailed examinations should be conducted, but if the same discussions as in the subcommittee continue, the debate will be concluded," adding, "The bill will pass within today."

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