Kim Ki-hyun "Justice Party as 'Democratic Party's Second Squad' Will Not Oppose Complete Prosecution Reform"

Considering Filibuster and More
Justice Party's Ambiguous Position

Expecting Deal in Basic Councilor Electoral Districts Like During Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's Appointment

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Kim Ki-hyun, former floor leader of the People Power Party, expressed on the 13th his expectation that the Justice Party will ultimately not oppose the so-called 'complete prosecution reform' bill.

Kim, appearing on CBS Kim Hyun-jung's News Show that day, said, "We will stop it by all means available to us," adding, "We are considering a filibuster, but the Justice Party's stance is ambiguous?they are neither opposing nor supporting it."

He cited the Justice Party's previous position on former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, saying, "The Justice Party once said the appointment should be made because it was the president's will, but then they went back on that," referring to the passage of the 'mixed-member proportional representation system' as an example.

Kim raised suspicions, stating, "Has the Justice Party ever not been the Democratic Party's second fiddle?" and "I suspect there is some deal between the Democratic Party and the Justice Party." He implied that a kind of deal is being made regarding the basic councilor electoral district system currently under discussion in the National Assembly's Political Reform Special Committee.

Most current public elections adopt a single-member district system where only one candidate with the highest votes is elected, but in the case of basic councilor elections, 2 to 4 winners are elected based on the number of votes. However, in each regional council that delineates basic councilor electoral districts, the practice of splitting 3-4 member districts into 2-member districts has often blocked third parties from entering the council. If the bill under discussion in the National Assembly passes, this splitting practice will disappear, and third parties will have many more opportunities to enter basic councils.

He said, "Because I believe they will continue to make such deals, I do not trust the Justice Party's position at all," adding, "We will leave it to the will of the people. We will say, 'Please judge for yourselves, dear citizens.'"