"'Kkomsu Taldang' Min Hyung-bae rejoins Democratic Party... Park Hong-geun expresses regret over agenda adjustment committee neutralization"

Park Hong-geun, Floor Leader, Directly Announces Min Hyung-bae's Reinstatement Decision

Independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae has rejoined the Democratic Party of Korea.

Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, announced at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 26th, "Lawmaker Min Hyung-bae is rejoining the party." Park informed about Min's return and apologized for Min's withdrawal during the amendment process of the Prosecutors' Office Act, which aimed to reduce the prosecution's investigative authority, thereby undermining the agenda adjustment committee.

He stated, "The Constitutional Court did not take issue with Min's withdrawal during the legislative process of the prosecution reform law but pointed out the limitation of the minority ruling party's review rights. The Democratic Party fully respects the Constitutional Court's decision and humbly accepts the criticism regarding some procedural issues," adding, "As the then floor leader of the Democratic Party, I express deep regret over the majority of constitutional justices' judgment that the review rights of the ruling party's judiciary committee members were ultimately restricted, contrary to the purpose of the agenda adjustment system."

Park continued, "Since the final ruling has already been made, our Democratic Party believes that it is a responsible attitude to deeply reflect on the shortcomings pointed out by the Constitutional Court, seek understanding from the public and party members, and reinstate Lawmaker Min," and said, "The Democratic Party and Min will henceforth devote themselves to legislative activities with greater sincerity and responsibility, and repay the nation's development and the people's expectations through politics."

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 25th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Last year, on April 20, during the process of passing the bill to adjust investigative authority between the prosecution and police, Min withdrew from the Democratic Party to neutralize the agenda adjustment committee of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The agenda adjustment committee is designed to allow up to 90 days of discussion on contentious issues between the ruling and opposition parties and is generally composed of an equal number of members from both sides, three each. At the time of the regime change, Min feared that if the agenda adjustment committee was followed, President Yoon Seok-yeol would take office and exercise the right to request reconsideration (veto). Therefore, Min withdrew from the party and became a member of the agenda adjustment committee representing a non-negotiating group. Thanks to Min joining the three members from the Democratic Party, the agenda adjustment committee's review was bypassed, and the bill was directly submitted to the full judiciary committee meeting. At that time, Min's withdrawal was widely criticized in political circles as a 'disguised and cunning withdrawal.'

Park Hong-geun's direct announcement of Min's return on this day appears to be an effort to take responsibility as the floor leader at the time for the controversy that arose during the adjustment of the prosecution's investigative authority. He also evaluated Min's withdrawal as "an unprecedented act of defiance by the ruling power, and Min's unavoidable decision to withdraw based on his conviction to participate in legislation as a matter of principle."

Within the Democratic Party, there had been voices calling for an apology regarding Min's withdrawal. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin argued on social media, "Lawmaker Min's cunning withdrawal, which was pointed out as problematic by the Constitutional Court, and the neutralization of the agenda adjustment committee that was meant to respect and deliberate minority opinions within the National Assembly, as well as the infringement on the National Assembly's review and voting rights caused by this, must be sincerely apologized for to the public."

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