Ruling Party That Demanded Yoon's National Investigation Swiftly Shifts to Caution
Joo Ho-young "Party Rejecting Leader's Orders?... Is This Lee Nak-yeon's Lame Duck?"
Kim Seong-won, the Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the People Power Party, submitted a request for a national investigation to the National Assembly's Legislative Affairs Office on the 27th to uncover the truth behind the disruption of the rule of law caused by Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae's order to suspend Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's duties./Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] On the 27th, the People Power Party, in cooperation with opposition parties including the People’s Party, submitted a request for a parliamentary investigation into Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae. The ruling party, which had initially proposed a parliamentary investigation into Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, has returned to a cautious stance in response to this counterattack.
On the same day, 110 members of the National Assembly, including the People Power Party, the People’s Party, and four independent lawmakers, submitted a request titled “Parliamentary Investigation Request to Uncover the Truth Behind the Rule of Law Disruption Incident Caused by Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae’s Order to Suspend Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol’s Duties.”
The investigation request includes ▲the order to suspend Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol’s duties and the referral to the disciplinary committee, along with the procedural legitimacy of these actions ▲and all suspicions regarding the undermining of prosecutorial independence and neutrality involving Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon.
Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, harshly criticized Minister Choo at a floor leaders’ meeting held earlier, saying, “I have seen a wild horse running loose in a field completely ruin a year’s harvest. Minister Choo Mi-ae’s reckless and theatrical behavior has utterly destroyed the rule of law in the Republic of Korea.”
He added, “This incident is an act of destroying the rule of law in Korea caused by Minister Choo’s unilateral investigation directives and personnel decisions, so a parliamentary investigation is naturally necessary. Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon also made remarks calling for a parliamentary investigation, which we actively welcome. We hope the Democratic Party will promptly consult and respond so that the investigation can proceed as soon as possible.”
As the People Power Party appears to be expanding the scope of the parliamentary investigation initiated by Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, the Democratic Party seems to have returned to a cautious stance. At the party’s Supreme Council meeting that day, Lee said regarding allegations of misconduct by Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, “We will observe the results of the Ministry of Justice’s inspection and the prosecution’s investigation, and based on those results, the National Assembly must fulfill its responsibilities.” This tone is markedly different from the previous day when he ordered an immediate review of the parliamentary investigation.
Lee added, “It is natural for the National Assembly to investigate and verify serious matters and systematize them institutionally. The opposition party is trying to turn even serious issues into political strife or interference,” warning against politicizing the parliamentary investigation.
Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering opening remarks via video conference at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
Concerns within the party that the investigation could provide an opportunity for Prosecutor General Yoon and the opposition to counterattack also contributed to the shift in stance. Kim Jong-min, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, said in a radio interview the previous day, “It’s not a matter of whether or not to hold a parliamentary investigation. I suggested clarifying the truth through a parliamentary investigation or special investigation to emphasize the seriousness of the issue.” Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Ho-jung also expressed caution, saying, “There must be an agreement between floor leaders and within committees, but I have not received instructions from the leader. We need to observe the process before deciding whether to conduct a parliamentary investigation before the disciplinary committee for Prosecutor General Yoon or the provisional injunction trial he filed.”
Regarding this, Floor Leader Joo said at a press meeting after the leadership meeting, “The party leader strongly urged us to seriously consider the parliamentary investigation, but if the party refuses, does that mean the leader is experiencing a lame-duck period?” He added, “This is a matter of national interest and a case of flagrant disruption of the national order. If the National Assembly does not conduct a parliamentary investigation into this case, then what is the National Assembly for?”
With the People Power Party submitting the investigation request on this day, it seems inevitable that negotiations between floor leaders will follow. According to the National Assembly Act, a parliamentary investigation can be initiated when at least one-quarter of the total members request it. Upon submission of the investigation request, the Speaker of the National Assembly is required to consult with the representatives of each negotiating group and form an investigative committee.
Ultimately, the key issue is expected to be the scope and subjects of the investigation. However, since the opposition insists on a “comprehensive investigation” including Minister Choo, while the ruling party is focusing solely on allegations against Prosecutor General Yoon, it is widely expected that reaching an agreement will be difficult.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
