Ruling Party Accelerates Legislation as Lee Mediates Prosecution Reform

"With One Voice, the Party, Government, and Presidential Office Will Fulfill Their Responsibilities"
Schedules for the Public Administration and Security Committee and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Remain Undecided

The Democratic Party of Korea is accelerating its efforts to pass the legislation for establishing the Serious Crimes Investigation Office and the Public Prosecution Office, which are follow-up measures to the prosecution reform. Although the party faced opposition from hardliners demanding amendments to the bill, the party leadership announced that the bill could be handled as early as the plenary session of the National Assembly on March 19, after President Lee Jaemyung directly referenced the government proposal and lent his support to it.

Chief Spokesperson Kang Junhyeon told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting on the 16th, "We do not rule out the possibility that the Serious Crimes Investigation Office and Public Prosecution Office Act could pass the plenary session on the 19th."

On the 16th, Chairman Choo Mi-e struck the gavel at the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly. On this day, the meeting was held without finalizing the agenda as the People Power Party requested inquiry into the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, but no agreement was reached between the ruling and opposition parties. March 3, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Party leader Jeong Cheongrae also stated in his opening remarks at the Supreme Council meeting, "The party, the government, and the presidential office are coordinating in depth to ensure that the principles of prosecution reform are upheld. We will fulfill the spirit of the times and our historical responsibility with one unified voice from the party, government, and the presidential office," adding, "Every provision of the law is important, and it is also vital to maintain the fundamental principle of separating investigation and prosecution."

The reason the party leadership is expediting the bill is because President Lee has directly intervened in the debate over prosecution reform.

On March 15 and 16, President Lee hosted back-to-back dinners with first-term lawmakers of the Democratic Party, personally working to persuade them on the need for prosecution reform. During a dinner with 34 first-term lawmakers the previous evening, he was reported to have expressed indirect concerns about the hardliners’ prosecution reform proposal, saying, "We must pursue the reforms that the people genuinely desire; excessive reforms that go beyond this are too much of a good thing."

On this day as well, President Lee directly refuted the arguments of the hardliners who oppose the government proposal and emphasized the need to pass the bill. He wrote on social media, "It is difficult to understand why we should insist on changing the title of 'Prosecutor General' to 'Chief of the Public Prosecution Office,' to the extent that it leaves room for constitutional controversy and provides the other side with an opportunity and justification to counterattack." He continued, "There is no need to give entrenched vested interests, who should be dismantled, an excuse and opportunity to regroup due to excessive clarity competition or unnecessary measures that stray from the essence."

He also stressed that the government proposal is a "party-government agreement" and added, "The party-government agreement is not an immutable final draft; if necessary, it can be discussed and revised again during the legislative process."

The issue lies with the standing committees. On this day, the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Bill Review discussed the Serious Crimes Investigation Office Act, but the process is being delayed due to contentious issues between the ruling and opposition parties. Not only the People Power Party but also the pro-government Cho Kuk Innovation Party has expressed opposition to the government proposal.

Yoon Kunyoung, who is both the subcommittee chair and the ruling party secretary of the Public Administration and Security Committee, said, "We have identified important points of contention between the ruling and opposition parties. There appear to be more than ten such contentious issues," adding, "We have decided to take additional time to review these points. Whether we will finalize the issues today or on the 17th will depend on the situation."

The office of Kim Yongmin, the ruling party secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Public Prosecution Office Act, said, "The schedule for the passage of the prosecution reform bill has not been decided yet," and "the public hearing originally scheduled for the 20th is also currently undecided."

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