"Leaving the Party Is a Political Judgment"... Controversy Over Min Hyung-bae's 'Fake Departure' and Reinstatement Debate

Park Ji-won Rejoining Party Sparks Calls Within Democrats: "Min Hyung-bae Should Also Rejoin"
Min: "He Will Rejoin When the Time Comes, Party Trust Remains Strong"
Political Impact of Constitutional Court Jurisdiction Dispute Ruling Poses Challenges

Independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Speculation about the return of independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae, who left the Democratic Party amid controversy over 'trickery' during the passage of the "Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights" (검수완박) bill, is emerging. On the 21st, Min stated that his departure from the Democratic Party was "a personal choice but also a political judgment made by both the party and myself." However, allowing Min's return would mean the Democratic Party itself acknowledges the 'disguised resignation,' making an immediate reinstatement politically burdensome, according to many opinions.

Within the Democratic Party, voices calling for Min's reinstatement have been publicly raised since the return of former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won was permitted on the 19th. Supreme Council member Jeong Cheong-rae pointed out in an interview with KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs,' "Min sacrificed himself for the party," and added, "It is unfair that former Director Park was reinstated while Min is not."

Min, who was a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee (Law Committee) in April, left the then-ruling Democratic Party to pass the 검수완박 bill referred to the Law Committee's agenda adjustment subcommittee. Min participated as a member of the opposition in the subcommittee, which was evenly split 3 to 3 between ruling and opposition parties, creating a 4 to 2 majority to pass the bill. At the time, the People Power Party strongly opposed this, accusing it of "violating the constitution and democracy through trickery resignation," but Min dismissed this, saying, "I decided to leave on my own will."

However, Min has consistently expressed his desire to return after the passage of the 검수완박 bill. Recently, contrary to his previous claims, he argued that "the resignation was a political judgment by the party." On the 21st, Min emphasized on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs,' "I left because of the normalization or reform of the prosecution and the reduction of prosecutorial investigation rights. It was a personal choice, but also a political judgment made by the party and myself, a public matter."

Min compared former Director Park, who left the party during the 2016 split of the People's Party, as "a relatively personal issue," and argued, "It is not appropriate to view it on the same level as mine." He added, "Morally and politically, there is no reason I cannot return. When the time comes, I believe I will follow the proper procedures to be reinstated."

However, Min's return poses a burden for the Democratic Party, as it would mean the party itself admits to the 'trickery resignation.' Above all, the People Power Party's constitutional complaint regarding the 검수완박 legislation is currently under review by the Constitutional Court, and considering the political repercussions depending on the outcome, it is generally seen as difficult to reinstate him easily.

Seemingly aware of this, Min said, "(The party's stance) seems to be that we should not undermine or deny the legitimacy of what we have done, and we should wait until the matter is fully resolved." He added, "In that regard, I firmly trust my fellow lawmakers, the party leader, and the party itself. My return is not urgent."

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