Park Ji-won, Leads the Proposal for the Amendment of the Presidential Records Act

Change to 'Majority of Present Members' Approval for Access and Data Submission
"Prevent Investigation Agency Monopoly and Revitalize Parliamentary Functions"

Assemblyman Park Ji-won

Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Haenam·Wando·Jindo), announced on the 30th that he has taken the lead in proposing a revision to the Act on the Management of Presidential Records (hereinafter referred to as the 'Presidential Records Act'), aimed at easing the requirements for accessing and submitting presidential designated records from the current two-thirds of the total members of the National Assembly to a 'majority' vote.

The current Presidential Records Act sets a certain protection period during which access to and submission of presidential designated records are restricted. However, if two-thirds or more of the total members of the National Assembly approve, access, copying, and submission of materials are allowed to the minimum extent necessary.

However, the prosecution's search and seizure of presidential designated records through the issuance of search warrants by high court chief judges has been conducted extensively. In particular, under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, the prosecution's search and seizure of the Presidential Archives lasted a total of 193 days within one year, and in the case of the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant incident, for which the Supreme Court confirmed a not guilty verdict, continuous search and seizure took place for 167 days from August 19, 2022, to February 1, 2023.

Rep. Park said, "If the requirements for voting on access to and submission of presidential designated records are eased, the National Assembly's function to monitor transparency in state affairs will be greatly enhanced," adding, "This will go beyond the unfair situation where only indiscriminate search and seizure by the prosecution against the previous administration is allowed, and will also realize legislative oversight of the current administration, thereby improving national transparency."