Ha Tae-kyung, Agreement on the Complete Review Ban Law Reversed for Re-discussion... "Losing a Lot of Style"

Response to the Complete Review Ban Law "Honestly, I Don't Understand"
National Referendum Law "Difficult Due to Time and No Enforcement Power"
"Candidate Kim In-cheol, Who Has Only Looked Out for His Own Interests, Would Be Better Off Not Becoming Minister"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, criticized the party's handling of the 검수완박 (complete removal of prosecutorial investigation rights) law process on the 2nd, saying that the party "is losing a lot of style" over a series of steps including agreeing to the Speaker of the National Assembly's mediation proposal and then demanding reconsideration.

Ha appeared on MBC Radio’s ‘Kim Jong-bae’s Focus’ that day and said, "Honestly, I don’t really understand."

Earlier, Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, agreed to the separation of prosecutorial investigation and indictment rights mediated by Speaker Park Byeong-seok and held a party meeting to ratify it. However, the Supreme Council later decided to reconsider. Subsequently, Kwon showed signs of adjusting wording during the Judiciary Committee’s agenda coordination discussions but then claimed that the mediation proposal was effectively nullified.

Regarding this, Ha pointed out, "The floor leadership apologized for a political misjudgment," and added, "It seems there was a perspective that the damage would be significant if the 검수완박 passed as is, so the serious issues needed to be prevented as much as possible."

He said, "What I want to ask the leadership is to send out one strong message because the public is confused," and added, "The current position is that, in any case, the overall process of 검수완박 should be fundamentally opposed and blocked, and public energy should be gathered."

On the impact of the 검수완박 law’s passage on local elections, Ha said, "If there had been no agreement on the mediation proposal, the Democratic Party would have had a big headache," and added, "Because of agreeing to the mediation proposal, our party is now also the target of criticism, so these points need to be well explained."

Ha also expressed skepticism about the 국민투표 (national referendum) on 검수완박 proposed by President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol’s side. He said, "Upon review, the National Referendum Act would need to be amended, but time-wise it’s difficult," and added, "The referendum itself has no legal binding force or compulsion."

Meanwhile, regarding the confirmation hearing phase, Ha raised concerns about Kim In-cheol, the nominee for Minister of Education. Ha said, "Candidates represent the public interest," and added, "A minister should show through their life how much they have represented and practiced public interest, but those who have lived only looking after their own interests might be better off not taking the position." He specifically mentioned Kim, saying, "The Fulbright scholarships were all received by family members," and added, "Of course, they may have been qualified, but from the general public’s perspective, it’s excessive. I think he should reflect on whether he has lived prioritizing only his own interests."

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