Gwangju Civic Group: "Min Hyung-bae's Return to the Democratic Party Undermines Democracy"

Civil society groups in the Gwangju area have criticized the Democratic Party of Korea's decision to reinstate independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae (Gwangju Gwangsan-eul).

On the 26th, Gwangsan Citizens' Solidarity issued a statement pointing out that "the Democratic Party of Korea's Supreme Council decision to reinstate Rep. Min is a serious challenge and damage to democracy and an unconstitutional act that overturns the Constitutional Court's ruling."

Gwangsan Citizens' Solidarity is a civic group based in Gwangsan District, Gwangju Metropolitan City, which is Rep. Min's constituency.

The group explained, "Last April, when independent lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja, who was a minority negotiation committee member within the Democratic Party, expressed opposition to the so-called 'complete removal of prosecution's investigative authority' law (Geomsu Wanbak Law), the Democratic Party appointed Rep. Min, who had left the party, as a replacement negotiation committee member. This violates the purpose of the National Assembly Advancement Act, which guarantees opportunities for minority opinions to be expressed, and undermines the original intent of the committee agenda coordination system. This raised doubts about the sincerity of Rep. Min's departure, labeling it as a 'trick and disguised resignation.'"

They continued, "Last month, although the Constitutional Court ruled that the legislation on the so-called 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecution's investigative authority) was valid, it also stated that Rep. Min, as the chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, violated the neutral position of the meeting chair by creating conditions for approval regarding the coordination committee, allowing the coordination bill to be passed without proper review. This deployment of a stable coordination committee member through disguised resignation infringed upon the rights of other lawmakers," adding, "The Democratic Party's actions are a serious challenge and damage to democracy and an unconstitutional act."

They further stated, "The behavior of the Democratic Party and Rep. Min Hyung-bae during the passage of the 'Geomsu Wanbak Law' set a bad precedent," and "The decision to reinstate Rep. Min is tantamount to admitting once again that his resignation was a trick and disguised resignation."

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