Hong Ik-pyo: "Ignoring Corporal Chae Special Investigation Act and Jeonse Fraud Special Act is a Crime Against the People"

"Determined to Block Overseas Trips" Pressure on Speaker Kim Jin-pyo
"Must Also Handle Grain Management Act and Franchise Business Act"

The Democratic Party of Korea has shown its determination to pass not only the Itaewon Disaster Special Act (Itaewon Special Act), which was agreed upon by both ruling and opposition parties ahead of the extraordinary session of the National Assembly, but also the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae and the Jeonse Fraud Special Act, which the ruling party opposes.

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 2nd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the morning of the 2nd, Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "Today, we must also handle the submission of the Jeonse Fraud Special Act and the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae in the plenary session," adding, "If the will of the people confirmed in last month's general election is ignored until the end in the 21st National Assembly, it would be a crime against the people."

Although the ruling and opposition parties agreed the day before to amend some provisions of the Itaewon Special Act and to vote on it in the plenary session, they remain sharply divided over the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae and the Jeonse Fraud Special Act. The People Power Party holds the position that the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae can be handled after the investigation is completed. On the morning of the same day, Lee Yang-su, the senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, appeared on SBS Radio's "Kim Tae-hyun's News Show" and said, "The Corruption Investigation Office and the prosecution are currently investigating the allegations of investigation interference related to Corporal Chae," adding, "If the investigation is incomplete after it ends, a special prosecutor should be appointed." Conversely, Jin Sung-jun, the policy committee chairman of the Democratic Party, argued, "Passing the Special Prosecutor Act is the fastest and fairest way to uncover the truth about the unjust death of the marine who died in the line of duty and to hold those responsible accountable."

The Democratic Party pressured Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, who is about to embark on an overseas trip, to unilaterally submit laws opposed by the ruling party, including the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae and the Jeonse Fraud Special Act. Floor leader Hong said, "The ruling party categorizes the Special Prosecutor Act for Corporal Chae, which is a national demand, as a political dispute law and opposes it unconditionally, leaving no room for agreement. Asking us to keep reaching an agreement is essentially asking us to waste too much energy on something that is not easy," adding, "When agreement is difficult, it is the role of the Speaker to allow the process to proceed according to the procedures stipulated by the National Assembly Act." After the policy coordination meeting, Choi Hye-young, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, told reporters, "If the submission is not accepted, we are proceeding with the determination to prevent the overseas trip."

The Democratic Party also emphasized that other contentious bills must be passed in the plenary session. Policy committee chairman Jin said, "We must pass the Grain Management Act and Agricultural Product Price Stabilization Act, which are necessary for price stabilization, as well as the Franchise Business Act and the Democratic Meritorious Person Act, which have been brought to the plenary session after long discussions," adding, "If these are not concluded in the 21st National Assembly, we will have to start over from the beginning in the 22nd National Assembly."