Kwon Seong-dong: "Proposal for National Referendum on Complete Prosecution Reform is an Idea Born from a Last-Resort Measure"

"Isn't it a way to break the Democratic Party's delusion by directly asking the people?"
'Discussion on national referendum', "We will discuss various aspects"

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is answering questions from reporters in front of the plenary session hall after the National Assembly plenary session ended around midnight on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, said on the 28th regarding the proposal by President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's camp for a national referendum on the so-called 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecutorial investigation rights) bill, "I think this idea came from the transition team's staff as a desperate measure."

After the National Assembly plenary session ended just after midnight that day, Kwon told reporters in response to a question about whether he had been contacted regarding the national referendum proposed by Yoon's camp and how the party would discuss it, "I have not been specifically contacted," and answered accordingly.

He said, "Since the Democratic Party of Korea is pushing the Geomsu Wanbak bill against the will of the people, I think this idea came from the perspective of 'If you are so confident, let's put it to a national referendum and properly ask where the people's will lies.'"

Kwon explained, "If the Democratic Party had pursued the Geomsu Wanbak bill by respecting the people's will at their level, such remarks would not have come out. But since they are forcing the bill in a way that is disconnected and contrary to the people's will, packaging it as prosecutorial reform and misleading the public, it is better to ask the people directly."

He added, "I think this idea came from the perspective of directly asking the people whether this is truly the prosecutorial reform the Democratic Party talks about, whether it aligns with the people's will, and whether this is a way to shatter the Democratic Party's delusions."

He expressed frustration toward the Democratic Party, which is trying to force the passage of the Geomsu Wanbak bill, saying, "It seems they really do not understand the will of the people who gave them a huge number of seats, and it is truly frustrating."

He continued, "The Democratic Party is trying to pass the Geomsu Wanbak bill, which the majority of the people oppose, for their own benefit, as a party-only celebration. Why did the people give them such a large number of seats? It means the people want them to compromise and cooperate."

Regarding whether the party would formally proceed with discussions on a national referendum, Kwon said, "We will discuss it in various ways."

Meanwhile, Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, told reporters that when the National Assembly plenary session is convened on the 30th, the amended Prosecutors' Office Act, which underwent a filibuster that day, will be processed, and then when the other Geomsu Wanbak bill, the amended Criminal Procedure Act, is submitted, another filibuster will be conducted.

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