"Abolish Early Voting, Hold Main Voting Over Two Days"
Kim Moonsoo, a presidential candidate for the People Power Party and former Minister of Employment and Labor, pledged on May 2 to abolish the parliamentary immunity from arrest and to disband the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).
On this day, Kim announced his "3+1 pledges," which include reforms in three areas?politics, the judiciary, and the election management system?as well as measures to eradicate spies and industrial espionage.
Kim stated that he would strengthen the quorum requirement for the National Assembly's appointment of Constitutional Court justices to two-thirds. He explained that this measure is intended to prevent the majority party from unilaterally taking control of constitutional institutions.
For judicial reform, Kim proposed abolishing the CIO and creating a new offense of judicial obstruction. He said, "All citizens have come to know the incompetence of the CIO and the shamelessness of the Democratic Party, which repeatedly obstructs justice," adding, "I will pursue reforms to ensure fair and swift investigations and trials in accordance with the Constitution and the law."
Regarding the election management system, Kim announced plans to allow the Board of Audit and Inspection to audit the National Election Commission. In addition, he said he would abolish the controversial early voting system and instead hold the main vote over two days. He explained that this is intended to apply the principle of reciprocity to the voting rights of foreigners.
In addition, Kim pledged to expand the definition of "spy" in the Criminal Act from "enemy state" to "foreign country" and to return counterintelligence investigative authority to the National Intelligence Service. He emphasized, "I will reform the political, judicial, and election management systems until public trust is restored, and I will make Korea great based on strong national security."
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