Ruling Party to Opposition: "Do Not Use National Audit and Special Prosecutor as Tools for Political Strife"

"National Assembly Investigation Lacks Compulsory Power, Special Prosecutor Fails to Meet Speed Requirements"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the party floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kwon Hyun-ji] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, effectively drew a line by saying, "Do not use it as a tool for political strife," regarding the opposition's demand for a state audit and special prosecution related to the Itaewon Halloween accident.

At the floor strategy meeting on the 8th, Floor Leader Joo said, "The state audit does not meet the requirement of enforceability, there are concerns about investigation delays and loss of evidence, and the special prosecution does not meet the requirement of promptness."

He added, "Our party can use any measures, including state audits and special prosecutions, if they are for swift cause identification and strict punishment of those responsible," but also said, "However, state audits and special prosecutions require parliamentary discussion and must go through certain legal procedures, which could rather delay cause identification and punishment of those responsible."

He said, "What the public wants regarding the Itaewon Halloween disaster is to report the truth to the people early through a prompt compulsory investigation. Furthermore, we ask the Democratic Party not to use state audits and special prosecutions as tools for political strife, but to adopt a bipartisan cooperative attitude to sincerely soothe the grievances of the victims and the sorrow of the bereaved families.

He also countered the opposition's call for special prosecution by blaming the 'prosecutorial reform' issue. Policy Committee Chairperson Sung Il-jong said, "Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, claimed that the police are attempting to cover up through self-investigation and that there are signs of a poor investigation, thus demanding special prosecution," adding, "Who made them conduct self-investigation? Isn't it because of the prosecutorial reform forcibly passed by the Democratic Party?"

He pointed out, "It is self-denial for someone who has not apologized even once for the prosecutorial reform to now talk about self-investigation and claim poor investigation," and asked, "How do you explain the lack of any reflection on ruining the national system over the past five years?"

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