'Agenda Committee Keyman' Min Hyung-bae, Dilemma of Rejoining the Democratic Party

Independent Supports Agenda Committee and Democratic Bill Processing
"Money Envelope Suspicion Arises, Rejoining Party? Burden to Party"

There is a petition for the reinstatement of independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae, who was criticized for so-called 'cunning party resignation' after leaving the party during the legislative process of the 검수완박 (Complete Prosecution Reform) bill. Some point out that hastily reinstating Min amid the turmoil caused by the 2021 party convention cash envelope scandal could increase political burdens.

Min resigned from the party in April last year and played a decisive role in passing the 검수완박 bill.

The Agenda Coordination Committee, introduced in 2012 as part of the National Assembly Innovation Act, is composed of an equal number of members from the ruling party and the other parties and independents?'3 to 3'?to prevent the ruling party from using its numerical superiority to pass bills unilaterally.

When Min, who had resigned at the time, joined the committee as an independent member, the composition effectively became 'Democratic Party 4 to other parties 2,' resulting in the 검수완박 bill being submitted to the plenary session. Under current law, if two-thirds (4 members) of the committee's members approve, the agenda can be passed.

Within the Democratic Party, there is an opinion that since a year has passed since Min's resignation, he now qualifies for reinstatement and should be reinstated promptly. They argue that Min's political decision for prosecutorial reform should be respected.

On the 20th, 21 Democratic Party lawmakers, including Ahn Min-seok, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office, stating, "Min made a political decision to pass the prosecutorial reform bill that was on the verge of failure," and added, "It is time to respond to his sacrifice for the party. We hope Min will no longer be left alone in the wilderness."

On the afternoon of the 17th, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, during the agenda coordination committee meeting on the partial amendment bill of the Special Act on Repayment of Student Loans after Employment held by the Education Committee, independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae is rebutting the People Power Party's objection to his participation in the agenda coordination committee.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, the Democratic Party is currently facing public criticism over the 2021 party convention cash envelope scandal. Moreover, with the Constitutional Court ruling last month that Min's resignation during the 검수완박 legislative process was illegal, the party faces significant burdens in starting discussions on Min's reinstatement.

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Won-wook said it is not the right time to discuss Min's reinstatement. On the 21st, he wrote on Facebook, "The public is now watching the Democratic Party because of the party convention cash envelope scandal. We must respond to that scrutiny with the public's perspective," and added, "Everything has its proper time."

Even after resigning to facilitate the 검수완박 legislation, Min has continued to play a key role for the Democratic Party as the 'Agenda Coordination Committee keyman.'

On the 17th, during the passage of the Special Act on Student Loan Repayment after Employment, Min greatly helped the bill's passage in the same manner as during the 검수완박 process. Although members of the People Power Party protested Min's attendance and left before the agenda was presented, the bill was passed under the Democratic Party's leadership.

On the 21st of last month, Min also attended the Agenda Coordination Committee as an independent member to discuss the agenda for the 'Hearing on School Violence Involving Attorney Jeong Soon-shin's Child.' Although People Power Party members protested and did not attend, the hearing was decided upon with the agreement of the three Democratic Party coordinators and Min.

While this has been criticized as a 'cunning move' that undermines the purpose of the Agenda Coordination Committee, in fact, Min plays a significant role in passing key bills from the Democratic Party's perspective. In other words, from the Democratic Party's standpoint, Min's reinstatement could mean losing the 'Agenda Coordination Committee card.'

Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang, formerly of the Democratic Party, also helped pass a bill by joining the Agenda Coordination Committee during the passage of the Grain Management Act last December.

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