People Power Party's Breakdown of 'Complete Prosecution Reform' Agreement...Democrats Call It "Vivid Evidence of Prosecutors' Overwhelming Power"

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is taking the elevator after meeting with Park Byeong-seok, Speaker of the National Assembly, at the Speaker's office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 25th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] On the 25th, the Democratic Party of Korea strongly criticized the People Power Party's cancellation of the 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of the prosecution's investigative authority) mediation agreement and decided to hold the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's Bill Review Subcommittee 1.

Park Joo-min, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Subcommittee 1, told reporters in the chairman's office in the afternoon, "I instructed to notify the subcommittee meeting at 7:30 PM," adding, "There are 10 bills previously proposed regarding the Criminal Procedure Act and the Prosecutors' Office Act, but since there is a chairman's mediation proposal, instead of reviewing all 10 bills, the review will likely focus on the mediation proposal."

He continued, "The chairman's current stance is to proceed as mediated. The discussion will probably center on that mediation proposal," and said, "There is nothing more to add at this moment."

Earlier, the Democratic Party had repeatedly expressed its intention to convene the Legislation and Judiciary Committee subcommittee on the same day.

Oh Young-hwan, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, told reporters in front of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairman's office in the afternoon, "We are in the preparation stage to hold the Legislation and Judiciary Committee subcommittee," and "Once the time is set, it will naturally be known, and the committee members will notify the meeting time after discussion. (Regarding the plenary session) nothing has been decided yet. The subcommittee is expected to be held, so you can consider that definite," he said.

Park Hong-geun, the Democratic Party floor leader, also told reporters after a meeting with the National Assembly Speaker in the afternoon, "The procedural rules for the session are set. I don't know if the Legislation and Judiciary Committee subcommittee discussion will happen today," but added, "We said it is right to proceed with the related parliamentary procedures without delay according to the agreement ratified by both parties through the final party caucus under the chairman's mediation, and I understand the chairman agrees with that."

He added, "If it is confirmed that the other side (People Power Party) has not just requested a re-discussion of the content but has broken the agreement, the schedule will inevitably have to be adjusted accordingly," and said, "I will meet with floor leader Kwon Seong-dong again to confirm whether it is indeed a cancellation. If it is, adjusting the plenary session scheduled for the 28th or 29th will be unavoidable."

Senior spokesperson Ko Yong-jin also said in a National Assembly briefing, "The People Power Party says it is 'the public's many concerns,' but in fact, it is 'the prosecution's strong pressure.' The People Power Party's cancellation of the agreement today is vivid evidence of the prosecution's overwhelming power," and added, "From today, the Democratic Party will proceed with the legislative process to normalize the prosecution faithfully according to the spirit of the agreement and the established procedures."

After the briefing, Senior Spokesperson Ko reiterated, "We plan to follow the agreed National Assembly Speaker's mediation proposal," and refuted, "If you look closely at the so-called public official (investigations) mentioned by the People Power Party, almost all concern public servants excluding so-called politicians. It is not true that the prosecution's investigative authority was removed to prevent politicians from being investigated. Also, I do not understand the basis for the claim that the prosecution should conduct election investigations."

Meanwhile, the ruling and opposition parties agreed on the 22nd to process the Geomsu Wanbak bill based on the mediation proposal by National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok, but the People Power Party requested the Democratic Party to renegotiate the agreement on the same day, citing reasons such as "insufficient mediation regarding election or public official crimes."

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