Justice Party "Oppose Forced Passage of Complete Prosecution Reform... Demand Withdrawal of Han Dong-hoon Nomination"

"Complete Removal of Prosecution's Investigation Rights, Establish a Parliamentary Discussion Body for Prosecutorial Reform to Deliberate"
Decision to Demand Withdrawal of Han Dong-hoon’s Nomination as Minister of Justice

Han Dong-hoon, the nominee for Minister of Justice, is leaving the press conference related to appointments at the transition team office in Tongui-dong, Seoul, on the 13th. Photo by Transition Team Press Photographers.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The Justice Party has decided as a party stance to oppose the prosecution reform bill, which centers on the separation of the prosecution's investigative and prosecutorial powers through the 'Geomsu Wanbak (complete removal of prosecution's investigative authority)' promoted by the Democratic Party of Korea, and has called for the withdrawal of its forced passage.

On the afternoon of the 13th, the Justice Party held a joint meeting attended by the leadership and lawmakers and made this decision. Lee Dong-young, the chief spokesperson of the Justice Party, stated, "The Justice Party basically agrees with the separation of the prosecution's investigative and prosecutorial powers, but forcibly pushing it through as it is now will inevitably cause greater aftereffects. We find it difficult to agree with the current process and will urge the Democratic Party to stop the forced passage."

The Democratic Party aims to pass the bill for Geomsu Wanbak in the National Assembly within this month and set a three-month grace period. The Justice Party considers this schedule too short and insists that a National Assembly-level discussion body on prosecution reform should be established to allow sufficient deliberation.

Earlier, the People Power Party announced that if the Democratic Party submits the bill to the plenary session of the National Assembly, they will conduct an unlimited debate (filibuster) to block the vote.

The Justice Party has decided as a party stance to oppose the 'Complete Removal of Prosecution's Investigation Rights' bill promoted by the Democratic Party of Korea. The photo was taken on the morning of the 10th at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

To forcibly end a filibuster, the consent of three-fifths (180 members) of the total members is required. Currently, with 172 seats, the Democratic Party needs additional consent to meet the quorum. However, according to the National Assembly Act, the filibuster automatically ends when the session ends, and the filibuster agenda is automatically submitted in the next session.

The Justice Party has reserved its position on whether to participate in the filibuster. The spokesperson responded, "We have not specifically discussed the filibuster issue. We will judge after observing future developments."

On the same day, the Justice Party decided to demand the withdrawal of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's nomination of Han Dong-hoon, Deputy Director of the Judicial Research and Training Institute (Chief Prosecutor), as Minister of Justice. The chief spokesperson said, "Anyone can see that appointing a close aide known to the entire nation as Minister of Justice can only be regarded as a declaration of war against prosecution reform," and criticized, "This itself is an inappropriate appointment that seriously undermines the neutrality and independence of the prosecution."

He added, "When President-elect Yoon was Prosecutor General, he talked about the neutrality and independence of the prosecution and made certain claims. To trust his words, the nomination of (candidate Han) must be withdrawn, and the Justice Party will strongly urge the withdrawal of the nomination."