Final Decision to Be Made at High-Level Party-Government Meeting on the 7th
It has been reported that the majority of Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers are in favor of placing the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA) under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The party has decided to delegate the final decision to its leadership.
Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kim Byungki, floor leader, are performing the national ceremony at the policy members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Baek Seunga, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, met with reporters at the National Assembly on the afternoon of September 3, following the policy caucus meeting. She stated, "The majority opinion was to place the SCIA under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety," and added, "There was no opinion in favor of placing it under the Ministry of Justice."
On this day, from 2:00 p.m. for about two and a half hours, the Democratic Party held a policy caucus meeting to discuss the proposed revisions to the Government Organization Act, which include the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office.
Han Jeongae, the party's Policy Committee Chair, explained the direction of the Government Organization Act reform, including the establishment of a Ministry of Climate and Energy and restructuring plans for the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Financial Services Commission. However, Baek, the floor spokesperson, said, "The specific details are confidential," and declined to elaborate. It is known that around 10 lawmakers spoke during the closed-door caucus meeting.
Although there was discussion regarding the placement of the SCIA during the caucus, no conclusion was reached. The final decision has been entrusted to the party leadership.
The party leadership plans to gather opinions and coordinate the positions of the party, the government, and the presidential office before the high-level party-government consultation scheduled for September 7. The revised bill is expected to be submitted on either the 8th or 9th. The party has set a goal to pass the revised Government Organization Act, which includes the prosecution reform plan, at the National Assembly plenary session on the 25th of this month.
The Democratic Party's "Special Committee for Normalizing Prosecution under Public Sovereignty," established under the leadership of Jeong Cheongrae, reported to the leadership on September 1 a prosecution reform plan that centers on placing the SCIA under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and completely abolishing the prosecution's supplementary investigative authority.
During the caucus, Representative Jeong stated, "I hope that the various opinions on the Government Organization Act will be well collected at today's caucus meeting, and that the Government Organization Act discussed at the legislative hearing of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee scheduled for the 4th will reflect the opinions of the majority of the public." He added, "As a responsible government and ruling party, I ask that you debate in an orderly and vigorous manner and that everyone follow the decision made in an orderly fashion."
Kim Byungki, the Democratic Party's floor leader, said, "Lawmakers must fully and passionately express their opinions," and added, "Even if sufficient discussion does not lead to consensus, this should be an opportunity to confirm that we each have our own thoughts and that differences are not necessarily wrong." He emphasized, "Personal attacks must never occur, and I want to reiterate that criticism should not be directed at individuals."
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