Democratic Party: "Today, the Judiciary Committee will review and pass the mediation proposal in the plenary session"

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Kwon Hyun-ji] The Democratic Party of Korea reiterated its intention to hold and pass the plenary session of the April extraordinary National Assembly on the 28th and 29th as per the Speaker’s mediation plan regarding the ‘Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights (Geomsu Wanbak)’ bill. On the other hand, the People Power Party strongly opposed it, citing President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol’s remark that Geomsu Wanbak is ‘Complete Corruption (Bupae Wanpan),’ meaning corruption running rampant. The floor leaders of both parties met with Speaker Park Byeong-seok to coordinate their opinions.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

On the afternoon of the 26th, the Democratic Party plans to hold a subcommittee meeting of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee to complete the bill review that was not finished the previous day. Immediately after, they will convene a full committee meeting to pass the prosecutorial reform normalization bill, known as ‘Geomsu Wanbak.’ Park Hong-geun, the Democratic Party floor leader, urged at the party’s floor strategy meeting, “The Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s review must be completed today,” and appealed to Speaker Park, saying, “Knowing the weight that both parties painstakingly approved at their party meetings, the plenary session must be held to pass the mediation plan.” Kim Seong-hwan, the policy committee chairman, also emphasized, “The prosecutorial normalization legislation is at risk of collapse due to a phone call from Han Dong-hoon, the nominee for Minister of Justice, and President-elect Yoon’s change of mind,” adding, “The Democratic Party will pass the prosecutorial reform bill in April as originally agreed.”

Meanwhile, the People Power Party repeatedly called for renegotiation of Geomsu Wanbak. The main point is to adjust the existing agreement, which left prosecutorial investigation rights only for corruption and economic crimes, to recognize prosecutorial investigation rights for the four major crimes, including public officials and election crimes. Kwon Seong-dong, the People Power Party floor leader, said at a morning meeting, “If the Speaker’s mediation plan passes as is, it will be impossible to avoid public criticism of it as a ‘self-shielding law,’” and added, “We need to revise the mediation plan that goes against public sentiment and prepare a renegotiation plan to retain investigation rights for the four major crimes, including public officials and elections.”

However, the Democratic Party expressed concern that the People Power Party’s reversal of the mediation plan, which the floor leaders of both parties had agreed upon last week, might be a political attempt to delay the confirmation hearings. Oh, the Democratic Party spokesperson, pointed out, “There are issues being raised about the candidates’ uncooperative attitudes and failure to submit materials during the confirmation hearing period,” and said, “There is concern that the mediation agreement is being broken to delay the process, which would be a very lowly attempt.”

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.