People Power Party: "Refusing Search and Seizure? If You Are Confident, You Should Undergo Investigation... Urge Opposition to Return to National Assembly Audit"

Refusal of Search, Obstruction of Official Duties
"Direct Challenge to the Rule of Law and Liberal Democracy"

If Not Participating in the National Audit
"Proceeding with Transfer of Social Rights"

Jin Jeong-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, and Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader, are talking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 20th. 2022.10.20 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] On the 20th, the People Power Party strongly criticized the Democratic Party of Korea for refusing the prosecution's search and seizure of the party headquarters by using physical force, defining it as obstruction of official duties that hinders legitimate law enforcement, and called it a "direct challenge to the rule of law and liberal democracy." They also stated, "If you are innocent, there is no reason not to undergo investigation."

Jung Jin-seok, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, said at a press meeting after the emergency committee meeting, "The Democratic Party is neither above the law nor a sanctuary," and "No one is exempt from legitimate law enforcement." He added, "The Daejang-dong case is an unprecedented land development fraud case, and the victims are innocent citizens," and "During the investigation of the Daejang-dong case, the main culprit handed a large sum of money to a close aide of the Democratic Party leader. The prosecution is investigating this allegation, so why is the Democratic Party blocking it?" He continued, "They are trying to block the search and seizure of the office of the Democratic Research Department head by mobilizing all their power? Why are they doing such things? If they are innocent, there is no reason to block the search and seizure. I believe the wise citizens will judge what is justice and what is injustice."

Members of the People Power Party on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee also criticized in a statement on the same day, saying, "The more they disguise it as political retaliation, the more Lee Jae-myung's judicial risk increases," and "It is a pathetic act showing no intention to resolve public suspicions." Earlier, Jung Jeom-sik, the floor leader of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said at the emergency committee meeting, "Obstructing the execution of warrants only proves that they are in cahoots with corrupt suspects and are the Democratic Party of Corruption."

The People Power Party also criticized the Democratic Party for possibly boycotting the National Assembly audit, calling it "a betrayal of the responsibilities entrusted by the people." Song Eon-seok, the senior deputy floor leader, said at the meeting, "If the Democratic Party chairman does not properly convene the audit, we plan to take over the chairmanship and proceed." However, the Democratic Party decided at the party meeting on the same day to proceed with the audit as scheduled.

The People Power Party leadership had planned to visit the Chungcheong region for an on-site emergency committee schedule on the same day, but canceled all related schedules due to the standoff between the prosecution and the Democratic Party over the search and seizure of the Democratic Party headquarters.

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