Ruling and Opposition Parties Open Path for Cooperation on 4th Supplementary Budget, Will They Also Cooperate on the Corruption Investigation Office?

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The ruling and opposition parties, which opened the door to cooperation by agreeing on the passage of the 4th supplementary budget, are now drawing attention as to whether they will reach cooperation again over the launch of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HCIO). As Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, hinted that he could select the candidate recommendation committee members for the HCIO chief, the Democratic Party welcomed the move and urged to speed up the process. However, the People Power Party emphasized that this is a response rather than cooperation, attracting attention.

Seong Il-jong, an emergency committee member of the People Power Party, appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs' on the 23rd and said, "I understand that (Chairman Kim) is carefully reviewing the selection of candidate recommendation committee members."

Earlier, Chairman Kim stated in an interview with the media that "the candidate recommendation committee members for the opposition party's HCIO chief will be appointed soon." The opposition party had delayed appointing the candidate recommendation committee members despite the HCIO's launch deadline being long overdue, citing the unconstitutionality of the law. However, recently, the Democratic Party pushed for an amendment to the HCIO Act allowing the National Assembly to appoint the recommendation committee members instead of the opposition party, which has become an urgent issue.

Emergency committee member Seong explained, "The ruling party is submitting the (HCIO Act amendment) bill, and isn't it a huge ruling party with 190 seats? They will just push it through." He added, "Since we hold the right to recommend two candidate recommendation committee members, Chairman Kim also said that he must respond in some way."

While they will consider appointing the candidate recommendation committee members, this is not in the spirit of cooperation but purely a 'response.' The opposition party maintains the position that the special inspector for the Blue House, which has remained vacant for three years, should be appointed first. Seong said, "The Blue House has not yet appointed the special inspector even though the president's three-year term has passed," and pointed out, "It is logically contradictory to proceed with this HCIO Act while the function to monitor corruption at the highest power is not even working."

For now, the ruling party welcomed Chairman Kim's remarks and requested cooperation. Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting that morning, "We welcome Chairman Kim's statement that he will recommend candidate recommendation committee members for the HCIO chief," and "We ask for the recommendation as soon as possible."

Leader Lee added, "While waiting for the People Power Party's candidate recommendations, our party's HCIO Act amendment bill will also be reviewed according to the National Assembly procedures," and said, "The HCIO is our long-cherished goal toward the completion of democracy, and by investigating crimes of high-ranking officials fairly and thoroughly, we must advance toward the completion of democracy."