[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The aftermath continues following the passage of the so-called 'Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights (Geomsu Wanbak)' bill in the National Assembly plenary session.
On the afternoon of the 30th of last month, the National Assembly held a plenary session and passed the amendment to the Prosecutors' Office Act, one of the Geomsu Wanbak bills. The bill was approved with 172 votes in favor, 3 against, and 2 abstentions.
During this process, a fierce clash occurred between the ruling and opposition parties. Members of the People Power Party who did not participate in the vote protested that the Democratic Party and Speaker Park Byeong-seok were unilaterally pushing the bill's vote and staged a sit-in in front of the Speaker's office. They even engaged in physical altercations with the Speaker's office staff to block Speaker Park's entry into the plenary hall.
Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is protesting to Park Byeong-seok, Speaker of the National Assembly, before the start of the plenary session on the 30th of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]
After the vote on the Prosecutors' Office Act, People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin harshly criticized Speaker Park during a procedural speech. Without any formal greeting, Bae pointed at him and said, "Is this the democracy you talk about?"
She said, "Despite our repeated pleas for you to stop, you boldly kicked us aside with your petite body and climbed up to the Speaker's podium." She added, "There are rumors that you are undertaking one of the largest overseas trips in history. As the second highest in protocol in the Republic of Korea, is this what the head of parliamentary democracy should be doing? Resign."
The Democratic Party raised concerns over the strong backlash from the People Power Party. On the same day, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Chan-dae said during a procedural speech, "Denying the agreement on the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act, which was agreed upon by the floor leaders of both parties and ratified at the party caucus, is disrespectful to the people. You should be ashamed."
Democratic Party lawmaker Ko Min-jung also criticized on her Facebook on the 1st, saying, "(The People Power Party) threw the agreement aside like a worn-out shoe and disrupted the proceedings in the plenary hall with jeers and loud voices," calling it "the return of the animal parliament."
Ko said, "In the Judiciary Committee meeting room, they occupied the chairman's seat and seized the gavel, blatantly violating the National Assembly Act," and questioned, "Since they do not abide by the law themselves, is it not the case that even those who are merely ministerial candidates are disregarding the legislative branch's authority?" She added, "I hope they reflect on the current reality where they have fallen from representatives of the people to mere puppets of Han Dong-hoon."
Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Won-wook took issue with Bae's remarks. Regarding Bae's earlier comment referring to Speaker Park as having a "petite body," Lee said, "This kind of remark can only be made to someone younger or someone you are supposed to teach."
Lee pointed out, "Even among members of the National Assembly, such words are absolutely unacceptable in private. Bae's remarks can be seen as harsh insults layered with discrimination and humiliation." He emphasized, "This is not a matter for the Democratic Party to demand an apology from Bae, but one that should be referred to the National Assembly Ethics Special Committee for review."
Meanwhile, on the same day in the National Assembly plenary session, after passing the amendment to the Prosecutors' Office Act, the Democratic Party submitted the second bill of the Geomsu Wanbak legislation, the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act. The People Power Party conducted a filibuster (unlimited debate), but it automatically ended with the conclusion of the temporary National Assembly session at midnight on the 1st. According to the National Assembly Act, if the session ends during a filibuster, the bill in question must be voted on at the next session, so the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act is expected to be processed in the plenary session on the 3rd.
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