People Power Party: "We will block the prosecution neutralization bill at the February extraordinary session"

Choi Hyung-doo "Sharing Issues on Abolishing the Prosecution"
'Gukmin Jaegal Beop' Named Media Control Law "Excessive Legislation"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Policy Lawmaker General Meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Juni Park] On the 17th, the People Power Party held a party meeting and announced its plan to prevent the passage of bills that would neutralize the prosecution during the February extraordinary session of the National Assembly.

On the same day, floor spokesperson Choi Hyung-doo told reporters, "There are many concerning aspects such as the Public Prosecution Office bill, the bill to abolish the Prosecutor's Office, and the establishment of the Serious Crime Investigation Office," adding, "We are sharing concerns about the issue of abolishing the prosecution after initially stating that the prosecution would only handle six major crimes." He also mentioned that bills aimed at eradicating child abuse and the ‘Yoon Mi-hyang Prevention Act’ are among the bills of interest.

Regarding the media control bill, it was labeled the ‘Gukmin Jaegal Act’ (People’s Gag Law) and criticized as excessive legislation. Spokesperson Choi said, "Even looking at the opinions from the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee’s senior expert committee and the National Assembly’s review, it is a matter that seriously infringes on freedom of expression," adding, "There was a shared recognition that increasing punitive damages from three to five times is a serious issue." He emphasized that if the bill passes, it could lead to a regression in press freedom. Choi stated, "We express deep concern about the media control bill and the enactment of laws such as the Media Arbitration and Damage Relief Act within the Criminal Act and the Information and Communications Network Act," and added, "The ruling party seems ready to push this through recklessly, calling it the ‘Fake News Act,’ but I believe it cannot be forced through by sheer majority alone."

Concerns were also raised about the delay in securing COVID-19 vaccines. Floor leader Joo Ho-young said in his opening remarks, "Despite repeated demands to secure sufficient quantities of COVID vaccines, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun simply asked if we should recklessly go into debt," pointing out, "Among the 37 OECD countries, we have become the country with the slowest vaccine rollout." He continued, "We should no longer just boast about K-quarantine but sincerely report and apologize to the public about why vaccine supply was delayed and how we plan to proceed."