Cheong Park Suhyun "Prosecutor Reform Law, Keep Dragging President In... Criticizing Imperial Presidency but Unbelievable"

"Now is 'National Assembly's Time,' Not the President's Place to Speak"
"Where Are the National Assembly's Powers and Duties... Not in Accordance with Democratic Principles"

Park Soo-hyun, Senior Secretary for Public Communication at the Blue House. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Amid various interpretations regarding President Moon Jae-in's remarks during his meeting with Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo about the so-called 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecutorial investigative authority) bill that separates prosecution and investigation powers, the Blue House stated, "It is the time for the National Assembly," adding, "This is not the time to ask the President's position."

On the 20th, Park Soo-hyun, the Blue House Chief of Public Communication, explained the President's remarks in an interview with YTN Radio, saying, "Now is the time for legislation, the time for the National Assembly. In other words, it is a time for dialogue and effort," and added, "The President's request was for the prosecution, the National Assembly, and the Democratic Party of Korea to work together with proposals to ensure legislation that meets the public's expectations."

Earlier, on the 18th, President Moon rejected the resignation of Prosecutor General Kim, who had expressed his intention to resign in opposition to Geomsu Wanbak, and held a meeting with him for about 70 minutes. On that day, President Moon said, "Reform must be for the people, regardless of the positions of the prosecution or the police. The legislation by the National Assembly must be the same," urging both the prosecution and the party to negotiate through dialogue. Regarding this, political circles offered various interpretations, including that President Moon supported the push for Geomsu Wanbak and that he requested a 'speed adjustment' in response to the Democratic Party's forceful passage of the bill.

In response, Chief Park emphasized that the President did not request a speed adjustment. He explained, "The President asked for more effort during the meeting with the Prosecutor General. Although he did not directly speak to the National Assembly or the party at that time, he would not have asked only the prosecution to make efforts alone. It was a request for joint effort."

Furthermore, regarding calls from political circles for President Moon to exercise his veto power over the Geomsu Wanbak bill, he pointed out, "The legislative authority given by the people to the National Assembly is truly important," and criticized, "I cannot understand where the authority and duty of the National Assembly have gone when people only look to the President and demand that he clarify his position."

He added, "When the law passes in the National Assembly and is sent to the government, that is precisely the time for the President to speak," and emphasized, "Continuously asking the President to intervene during the National Assembly's time, while criticizing the imperial presidency, is incomprehensible. Persistently involving the President and demanding answers is not in line with democratic principles."