Ruling Party "Lee Jae-myung's Corruption Shield" vs Opposition "Choo Kyung-ho's Expo Tour During Budget Review"

Budget Bill Misses Legal Deadline... Expected to Drift Like Last Year
Plenary Session Scheduled for the 8th... Dual Special Prosecutors May Follow Impeachment
Ruling and Opposition Parties Blame Each Other... Budget Bill Processing Takes a Backseat

The Democratic Party of Korea is intensifying confrontation with the ruling party as it announces the forced passage of the so-called 'Double Special Prosecutor Law' (allegations of Kim Geon-hee's involvement in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation scandal and the Daejang-dong 5 billion won club), following its attempt to impeach Lee Dong-gwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission.

On the morning of the 4th, Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, criticized at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, saying, "The Democratic Party has polluted the plenary session for budget approval by turning it into a 'corruption shield' session, missing the legal deadline for budget approval again this year." He added, "The Democratic Party's insistence on pushing through a 'political special prosecutor' is an incomprehensible act that defies common sense and ordinary reason, even for an opposition party with differing views." He further pointed out, "(The Double Special Prosecutor Law) intends to appoint special prosecutors who follow the Democratic Party's orders to conceal and distort the corruption allegations against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, related to the Daejang-dong scandal."

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Double Special Prosecutor Law was designated as a fast-track bill led by the opposition party in April this year and will be automatically submitted to the plenary session if not presented by the 22nd. A member of the Democratic Party's floor leadership told Asia Economy in a phone interview on the same day, "The Double Special Prosecutor Law is proceeding according to constitutional procedures after being designated as a fast-track bill," adding, "We plan to request the Speaker of the National Assembly to submit it to the plenary session on the 8th." This is part of a plan to pressure Speaker Kim Jin-pyo to advance the submission date.

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, also sharply criticized the Democratic Party for pushing impeachment and special prosecutors with their majority, calling it a 'giant opposition rampage.' He said, "The impeachment rush related to Lee Dong-gwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, will be recorded as the pinnacle of the Democratic Party's abuse of absolute power," and pointed out, "The Democratic Party's reckless behavior reveals that the exercise of impeachment rights is not to uphold the constitution and laws but a strategy for next year's general election."

Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung and floor leader Hong Ik-pyo are holding a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on the 4th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at a rally denouncing the excessive use of veto power and urging the passage of livelihood bills held on the stairs in front of the Rotunda Hall at the National Assembly on the 1st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Democratic Party counterattacked, accusing the government and ruling party of delaying budget review. In particular, they raised accountability issues over Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho accompanying President Yoon Seok-youl on his state visit to the UK during the National Assembly's budget review. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the same day, "The legal deadline for budget approval was missed again this year due to the government and ruling party's neglect of people's livelihoods," adding, "Obstructing budget approval, blocking livelihood legislation, and habitual veto abuse?can the government run the country so irresponsibly and stubbornly?" He then urged, "Once again, I request cooperation for the approval of the livelihood budget," emphasizing, "Cooperation on budget and bill approval is originally something the ruling party asks of the opposition."

Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said, "While the Democratic Party bears some responsibility for the budget not being approved within the legal deadline, I deeply regret the government and ruling party's evasion of responsibility and delay in negotiations." He directly criticized rumors of cabinet members running in the general election. Hong said, "Is it reasonable that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho is rumored to run in the general election when the budget hasn't even been approved?" He scolded, "Minister of Science and ICT Moon Bang-kyu, who was appointed less than three months ago, cut more than 5 trillion won from the R&D budget. If he has any conscience, he should not quit to run in the general election."

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