Deadlock Between Ruling and Opposition Over 검수완박... Minjoo Party "Must Pass This Month," People Power Party "Must Prevent a Stain on Constitutional History"

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, adjusts his mask during the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The ruling and opposition parties continue to clash over the legislation of 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecutorial investigative authority). The Democratic Party of Korea has declared that it will definitely pass the related bill during this month's extraordinary session of the National Assembly, while the People Power Party has announced it will make every effort to block the legislation.

Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, held a press briefing at the National Assembly on the morning of the 18th, stating, "This week will be a critical turning point for the second phase of power institution reform," and added, "Through the separation of prosecutorial investigative authority and police reform, the Democratic Party will proceed with reform legislation without fail to achieve checks and balances among power institutions."

Park said, "Currently, the People Power Party, the Presidential Transition Committee, and the prosecution have formed an alliance to protect vested interests and are using all means at their disposal," and argued, "The prosecution's behavior of selectively and arbitrarily interpreting even the Constitution to protect their power and privileges is absolutely unacceptable."

He further explained, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration is instead trying to strengthen prosecutorial power again, and by nominating candidate Han Dong-hoon, there is great concern that the historically developed mutual checks and balances among power institutions will not only be halted but regressed," adding, "We judged that if the bill is not passed during the April extraordinary session, this opportunity will never come again."

Regarding some criticisms that the Geomsu Wanbak legislation is being pushed to halt ongoing investigations by the prosecution into the government and ruling party, Representative Park Joo-min said, "The Daejang-dong case is already being investigated by the police, and if our law passes, the police under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration will conduct the investigation, so the claim that it is to stop a specific investigation does not logically hold," emphasizing, "It is a supplementary measure to the first adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police."

Seong Il-jong, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party floor countermeasure meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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The People Power Party fiercely criticized the Geomsu Wanbak legislation as a "stain on constitutional history" and urged Speaker Park Byeong-seok to block the bill. Sung Il-jong, the policy chief of the People Power Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "President Moon Jae-in showed tacit approval of the Geomsu Wanbak bill by refusing to meet with Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo before his resignation despite his request for a meeting," and added, "The last bastion to prevent this stain on constitutional history is Speaker Park."

Sung earnestly appealed, "I sincerely urge Speaker Park. Please block the Geomsu Wanbak bill, which even the Prosecutor General appointed by the Moon administration and pro-government prosecutors are opposing at the risk of their positions," and said, "As the second highest-ranking official in the state and the last hope for the people, the Speaker's judgment, made for the greater good, is expected to be recorded rightly in history."

At the same meeting, Supreme Council member Jo Su-jin criticized President Moon for refusing Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo's meeting request the day before, saying, "It seems to mean that he intends to condone Geomsu Wanbak to cover up corruption." Jo also emphasized, "Now Speaker Park must serve as the last bastion of the Constitution and the rule of law. The Speaker must show an authoritative and responsible attitude against the shameful shield legislation to cover up corruption and the legislative rampage of the Democratic Party, whose brakes have completely failed after the presidential election defeat."

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