Minsaengpa vs Gaehyeokpa... Ruling Party's Prosecution Reform 'Between Cold Rationality and Passion'

Reform Special Committee Members Demand Reactivation... Kim Yong-min "Will Ensure Swift Activity"
Song Young-gil Maintains Speed Control Stance... Ko Yong-jin "Will Prioritize Real Estate and Vaccines"
Potential Conflict Escalation... Choo "Stirring Up Trouble Hinders Reform" Supports Reform Faction

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Attention is focused on whether the Special Committee on Prosecution Reform of the Democratic Party of Korea, whose term has ended, can be reactivated under the new leadership. Although the committee members have a strong will to resume activities, the leadership, including Representative Song Young-gil, appears to have relatively weak determination regarding prosecution reform.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Special Committee on Prosecution Reform was a non-permanent committee that ended with the expiration of former Representative Lee Nak-yeon's term. However, the members affiliated with the committee have a strong will to continue the committee under the new leadership. A committee member told Asia Economy on the 10th, "Most agree on reactivation. The will is firm." Kim Yong-min, the senior supreme council member of the committee, also emphasized on the 3rd, upon his inauguration as a supreme council member, "We will ensure that the prosecution reform committee can resume activities swiftly." The task force (TF) on investigation and prosecution separation under the Special Committee on Prosecution Reform held a meeting at the National Assembly that morning to discuss future directions and other matters.

However, it is uncertain whether the leadership will fully accept their hopes. Representative Song maintains the position that speed adjustment is necessary for prosecution reform. He believes that more effort should be put into solving issues such as COVID-19 prevention and real estate. After visiting the Hyundai Motor plant in Ulsan on the 6th, senior spokesperson Ko Yong-jin told reporters, "There are some opinions to expedite prosecution reform, but Representative Song has so far been moving with a policy prioritizing real estate and vaccines."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This could also become a source of internal party conflict in the future. Many members of the committee belong to the ‘Cheoreomhoe,’ a group of hardline first-term lawmakers advocating prosecution reform within the party, and Kim Yong-min, a committee member, holds strong influence in the leadership as a senior supreme council member. These factors may cause discord between the leadership and the committee. Since the strong reformist stance of hardline party members cannot be ignored, Representative Song’s concerns are expected to deepen. Additionally, former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae criticized the Democratic Party leadership’s attitude on Facebook that day, saying, "Saying to focus on people’s livelihood instead of prosecution reform and media reform is merely a divisive tactic within the reform camp aimed at ultimately weakening the power of reform."

Currently, the bills promoted by the Special Committee on Prosecution Reform are at a standstill due to the committee’s termination. The issue of establishing the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (Jungsucheong), which sparked opposition within the prosecution, has not been further discussed following the defeat in the April 7 by-elections. Not only the establishment of Jungsucheong but also bills to strengthen the right to legal counsel during investigations remain stalled.