An Min-seok "Regret over Conditional Acceptance of Innovation Plan No. 1... Should Have Accepted Fully"

The Democratic Party of Korea expressed regret through Representative An Min-seok regarding the party's acceptance of the Innovation Committee's first innovation proposal, 'waiving immunity from arrest,' with the condition of 'proper warrant issuance.'

On the 20th, Representative An said on YTN's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' program, "Many of the investigations conducted under the prosecution regime have aspects of planned and biased investigations, reflecting the concerns of Democratic Party lawmakers. Even so, I personally regret that the first innovation proposal was accepted conditionally."

The Democratic Party held a party meeting on the 18th and decided to adopt the Innovation Committee's first innovation proposal to waive immunity from arrest as the party's official stance. However, since it includes the condition of 'proper warrant issuance,' it has been criticized as a 'trick.'

Ahn Min-seok, member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Representative An acknowledged, "I somewhat accept the criticism regarding the conditionality," but added, "However, we should see this as making it practically difficult for arrest consent bills to be rejected, so I believe there will be no further controversy over a bulletproof National Assembly."

Regarding whether the Innovation Committee led by Kim Eun-kyung will revise the nomination rules in the future, he said, "Wasn't full authority delegated to the Innovation Committee? Then the scope of what the Innovation Committee can handle is unlimited," adding, "In that sense, I believe they can address everything, including nomination rules, targets for replacement, and whether to abolish the delegate system."

He continued, "Why can't the Innovation Committee push more strongly? At this point, almost a month in, there should be cries of 'evil' from various places. I regret that they have not pushed more forcefully," expressing disappointment, and added, "The spirit of 'Yukchamgoldan (肉斬骨斷),' which means cutting flesh and breaking bones, is needed in the Innovation Committee now, but this is not happening properly."

Regarding the Innovation Committee's third innovation proposal, which includes 'prohibiting more than three consecutive terms in the same constituency,' he said, "Among senior lawmakers with four or more terms and even among first-term lawmakers, there are some who make you wonder how they became members of the National Assembly, and some who show no opposition spirit at all," adding, "Therefore, not only senior lawmakers but also first-term lawmakers?nearly 170 Democratic Party lawmakers?must all have the attitude to give up their vested interests. I believe that with such an attitude, innovation will succeed."