Yoo Si-min "Korean Party Blocks All Bills" vs Jeon Won-chak "Corruption Investigation Office Unconstitutional" (Summary)

Yoo Si-min "Public Opinion to Judge Conservative Opposition Exceeds Half"
Jeon Won-chak "Corruption Investigation Office Act Unconstitutional... Temporary National Assembly Also Illegal"

Yoo Si-min, Chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation. Photo by JTBC, captured from the 'New Year Debate' broadcast.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Yoo Si-min, chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, expressed a differing opinion from lawyer Jeon Won-chak regarding the actions of the Liberty Korea Party. Lawyer Jeon claimed that the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HOCI) violated the constitution. In contrast, Chairman Yoo countered that the Liberty Korea Party opposed everything the ruling party did.

On the 2nd, the 'JTBC New Year Special Debate' featured Yoo Si-min, lawyer Jeon Won-chak, Lee Cheol-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Professor Park Hyung-joon of Dong-A University, discussing 'Korean Politics, What Needs to Change.'

Regarding the bill to establish the HOCI, lawyer Jeon said, "Since Lee became a member of the National Assembly, he seems to have lost objectivity," and pointed out, "The HOCI law is unconstitutional. Professor Heo Yong, who taught President Moon Jae-in about the constitution, also says it is unconstitutional."

He continued, "The fast-track is an advanced law. The filibuster is also an advanced law. If the Liberty Korea Party applied for a filibuster, they should have been allowed to operate it properly, but instead, they used the trick of splitting the temporary session into several days," emphasizing, "Is such a trick legitimate? I consider that itself illegal."

Attorney Jeon Won-chaek. Photo by JTBC, captured from the broadcast of 'New Year's Debate'.

Additionally, Professor Park criticized the prosecution's indictment policy announced on the afternoon of the previous day (the 2nd), saying, "No one can be satisfied with the investigation results. It is the outcome of political strife."

However, Professor Park added, "I think the opposition party obstructed. I think they were hit so hard that their ankles hurt," and emphasized, "But President Moon Jae-in emphasized communication and cooperation. Whenever political strife intensifies, it is important what agenda the ruling party sets."

He continued, "However, the ruling party has the responsibility for managing state affairs without preventing the opposition from obstructing by forcing unreasonable measures within the election law and HOCI law agendas throughout the year."

In response to Professor Park's claim, Assemblyman Lee said, "I acknowledge that the primary responsibility for political strife lies with the ruling party. Personally, I do not agree with the HOCI law either. But if the majority of the public has long wished for it for over 20 years, I think it should be largely accepted."

Regarding the fast-track procedure, he questioned, "The fast-track was created as a channel to be used when severe political strife prevents agreement. Then, if the main opposition party opposes it despite the agreement of three-fifths, should it not be done?"

Chairman Yoo emphasized, "The interpretation (of HOCI, fast-track, etc.) is different. No interpretation is absolutely correct."

In response, lawyer Jeon said, "If a country splits the National Assembly and blocks filibusters with filibusters, that party should be shut down on that day in an advanced country. Yet Speaker Moon Hee-sang passed it while enduring ridicule that it was 'because of his son.' Even so, if the ruling party claims no fault, I find that questionable."

In response to lawyer Jeon's claim, Chairman Yoo said, "If we argue like this, we end up mentioning all the past things. The problem is that the Liberty Korea Party has to obstruct because it is the opposition party," countering.

He added, "We need to think carefully about what the Liberty Korea Party opposed during the two and a half years since the Moon administration began. They blocked all legislation that conflicted with them," raising his voice.

He continued, "I think it is legitimate as long as the National Assembly Act is followed. Because they blocked everything indiscriminately, the conservative opposition party faces public opinion for judgment exceeding half in the presidential election in the fourth year of the president's term," he emphasized.

Hwang Kyo-ahn, Leader of the Liberty Korea Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Yoo Si-min Predicts "Democratic Party Will Secure Majority Seats" in General Election

The panelists expressed differing views on the general election forecast. Lawyer Jeon said, "I was despairing when I saw Representative Hwang (Kyo-ahn) of the Liberty Korea Party refer to Assemblyman Yoo Seung-min as 'Yoo Amugae' and his high school classmate as 'K'."

He continued, "I don't know if it's because of his long bureaucratic career or because he has only been in a greenhouse, but he only talks about self-sacrifice. He thinks shaving his head and fasting is sacrifice," repeatedly criticizing.

Regarding candidate nominations, he said, "The first thing to give up is the nomination right. The moment he says, 'I cannot give up the nomination right to safely pursue the path to the presidency,' Representative Hwang's conservative unification is already over, and he himself is collapsing. He doesn't know that. That's why I think conservative unification won't happen."

Assemblyman Lee said, "It doesn't feel like someone else's problem," and analyzed, "When diagnosing conservatism now, we need to see whether division is the result of crisis or crisis is the result of division. I think division is the result of crisis."

He added, "Conservatives need to win the people's hearts through a large-scale innovation, not by going for economies of scale and trying to face off one-on-one."

Chairman Yoo predicted, "The Democratic Party will secure a majority of seats." He said, "If no major variables occur, (it is possible)," and added, "Including friendly parties that can be partners, such as the progressive camp and the 4+1 (Democratic Party, Bareunmirae Party, Justice Party, Party for Democracy and Peace, and Alternative Party), it will be a quorum capable of smoothly passing legislation."

He further predicted, "Whether or not this is achieved will gauge the relationship between the government and the National Assembly in the second half of the Moon Jae-in administration, or the overall state governance."