Opposition Holds Solo Session of Legislation Committee... Special Prosecutor Bill for Corporal Chae Submitted

Minister of Justice Park Seong-jae Absent... "Regrettable Incident"

The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, held the first Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting of the 22nd National Assembly on their own. The opposition quickly moved to advance the Special Prosecutor Act on the investigation pressure allegations related to the death of Sergeant Chae Sang-byeong (Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act), which President Yoon Seok-yeol had vetoed, by putting it on the agenda of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

On the 12th, Jeong Cheong-rae, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, held a full committee meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and put the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act on the agenda. According to the National Assembly Act, newly enacted laws must undergo a 20-day deliberation period after being referred to a standing committee, but this was waived through a resolution. The first subcommittee, which received the bill, is expected to appoint a subcommittee chairman and members by the 14th and then review the bill. Chairman Jeong said, "I feel sorry to the public that the first meeting of the 22nd National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee was held with some members absent, but there is a strong demand to quickly organize the standing committee and work on legislation for the people," adding, "The meeting was inevitable to keep the promise made to the people to create a working National Assembly."

The Democratic Party plans to pass the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act before the first anniversary of Sergeant Chae’s death on the 19th of next month. Kim Seung-won, a Democratic Party lawmaker appointed as the party’s floor spokesperson in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said on CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show' that "the phone records where investigation pressure was concentrated are from late July to early August last year," adding, "Usually, phone records are deleted after one year. If they are deleted, the truth about the investigation pressure could be buried, so we are hurrying."

Jeong Cheong-rae, Chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, is striking the gavel at the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly on the 12th. This meeting was the first plenary session of the 22nd National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, held solely by the opposition party members in the absence of ruling party lawmakers. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee held the full meeting without any ruling party members present. Democratic Party and the People’s Party for Innovation and Change lawmakers criticized the ruling party members who did not attend the committee. The People Power Party has labeled the Democratic Party’s control of 11 standing committees, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, as 'legislative dictatorship' and is boycotting the National Assembly schedule, including standing committees. Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae said, "It is very regrettable that the ruling party members did not attend despite being the governing party," and added, "The chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee should strongly reprimand the ruling party members to show responsibility, even through the committee’s resolution."

Park Seong-jae, Minister of Justice, who did not attend the Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting that day, was also criticized. Chairman Jeong said, "I did not hear that the Minister of Justice would be absent," adding, "It is very regrettable, and when someone who is paid by the people shows such behavior, they deserve criticism from the public." He continued, "Since this is happening in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, I will exercise all the authority and rights available to me as the chairman," and said, "I will take appropriate measures going forward."

Meanwhile, besides putting the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act on the agenda, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee appointed lawmaker Kim as the opposition floor spokesperson. Additionally, the committee put on the agenda requests for attendance of cabinet members and submission of materials from related institutions such as the Ministry of Justice, the Constitutional Court, the Board of Audit and Inspection, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the Court Administration, and the Military Court.

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