University Students and Civic Groups Criticize 'Geomsu Wanbak'... "Violates Constitutional Spirit"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] On the 3rd, ahead of the State Council's promulgation of the 'Geomsu Wanbak' (Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights) bill, a series of press conferences criticizing it were held.

The conservative-leaning student organization 'Sinjeondaehip' held a press conference in front of the fountain at the Blue House that morning, stating, "The complete removal of prosecutorial investigation rights violates the spirit of the Constitution," and "Do not ruin the lives of the people because of politicians' grudges and self-interest."

They said, "The Ulsan mayor election interference case, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's illegal nuclear power plant shutdown case, and the Ministry of Environment blacklist case are all issues involving abuse of authority. Can you say there is no hidden intention behind Geomsu Wanbak?" They pointed out that the Geomsu Wanbak bill, which prevents the prosecution from directly investigating abuse of authority crimes, is underpinned by political motives.

The civic group Rule of Law Restoration Action Alliance (Beopse-ryeon), which filed a complaint against Representative Min Hyung-bae who left the Democratic Party, also held a press conference at Seocho Police Station before the complainant investigation that day.

Beopse-ryeon stated, "Chairman Park Kwang-hoon of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee appointed Representative Min as a member of the Agenda Adjustment Committee immediately after he left the party, then passed a bill criticized as unconstitutional like a military operation," and argued, "Even now, the passage of this anti-democratic bill should be stopped, and prosecutorial reform should be achieved through social consensus."

Earlier, Beopse-ryeon had filed a criminal complaint against Representative Min on the 22nd of last month, claiming that his leaving the party to pass the Geomsu Wanbak bill and being assigned to the Agenda Adjustment Committee as an opposition party member constituted obstruction of business by coercion and intimidation.