Democratic Party "Request to Cheong for Cabinet Meeting Postponement" vs People Power Party "No Tricks, Start Solo Protest"

Democratic Party Requests Postponement of Cabinet Meeting Scheduled for the 3rd
People Power Party: "President Moon Must Conscientiously Reflect on 'Prosecutorial Reform'"
"Trickery to Change the Cabinet Meeting Date Is Not Acceptable"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea has reportedly requested the Blue House to postpone the Cabinet meeting regarding the promulgation of the prosecution investigation and indictment separation bill, known as 'Geomsu Wanbak (complete removal of prosecution investigation rights).' Meanwhile, the People Power Party strongly criticized this, saying "tricks are not acceptable."

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is holding a relay picket protest on the 1st in front of the Blue House fountain in Jongno-gu, Seoul, demanding President Moon Jae-in to exercise his veto power on the prosecution reform bill and requesting an individual meeting. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

On the 1st, Park Hyung-soo, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated in a commentary titled "Will even President Moon Jae-in resort to irregular methods and tricks to promulgate the Geomsu Wanbak bill?" that "If the Blue House changes the date of the Cabinet meeting to promulgate the Geomsu Wanbak law, it would be committing a great sin against the people and history by colluding with the Democratic Party." He added, "President Moon Jae-in should carefully consider, with the conscience of a president and a legal professional, whether the Geomsu Wanbak bill will be a benefit or harm to the people."

Park criticized, "Yesterday, the amendment to the Prosecutors' Office Act was passed in the National Assembly plenary session, and the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act was submitted, making Geomsu Wanbak practically a reality. The Democratic Party showed all kinds of illegal, irregular, and tricky methods to bypass and nullify the National Assembly Act, including disguised party withdrawal, by rushing the Geomsu Wanbak bill through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee subcommittee, the agenda coordination committee, and the full Legislation and Judiciary Committee."

He pointed out, "For the Democratic Party's Geomsu Wanbak to be completed, the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act must be passed at the plenary session scheduled for May 3, and the promulgation of the Geomsu Wanbak law must be approved at the Cabinet meeting held on the same day." He added, "Accordingly, the Democratic Party and the Blue House are discussing delaying the Cabinet meeting, which is usually held at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, to the afternoon or holding it on a different day altogether."

He emphasized, "Article 53, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea requires the president to promulgate a bill sent from the National Assembly to the government within 15 days." He continued, "The Constitution allows the president 15 days to carefully review whether the bill will benefit or harm the people and decide whether to exercise the veto power." He criticized, "If President Moon Jae-in promulgates the Geomsu Wanbak bill immediately after it is sent to the Blue House or hastily changes the date to promulgate it, it would go against the purpose of granting the president veto power in the Constitution."

Earlier that morning, Yoon Ho-jung, co-chair of the Emergency Response Committee, responded to reporters' questions after the 'Democratic Party of Korea First Candidacy Support Group First Penguin Victory Rally' held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, saying, "I did not personally contact them, but I understand that the party's intention has been conveyed," when asked if there was any intention to request the Blue House regarding the timing and method of the Cabinet meeting.

Since the plenary session for the Geomsu Wanbak bill and the last Cabinet meeting of the Moon administration overlap at 10 a.m. on the 3rd, it is interpreted that the Cabinet meeting is being considered to be adjusted to the afternoon, taking into account the time required for the bill to be sent.

Park said, "If the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act passes at the plenary session scheduled for 10 a.m. on the 3rd, it will be immediately sent to the government, but if the government holds the Cabinet meeting at 10 a.m. as usual, the agenda cannot be submitted. Therefore, they plan to hold it in the afternoon to promulgate the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act." He added, "At 2 p.m. today, the floor leadership will start a one-person picket protest in front of the Blue House fountain."