Legislation Committee Holds Ruling Party-Led Prosecution Reform Hearing... People Power Party Walks Out, Calling It "Nazi Dictatorship"

5 of 10 Witnesses Attend, Along with 11 Reference Persons
Individuals Involved in Geonjin Buddhist Sealed Band Case Summoned

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly, led by the ruling party, held a legislative hearing on prosecution reform. Members of the People Power Party expressed dissatisfaction with the selected witnesses and reference persons, and walked out in protest even before the hearing began.

On the 5th, a legislative hearing on prosecution reform was held at the Legislative and Judiciary Committee's Bill Review Subcommittee 1 in the National Assembly. 2025.9.5 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On September 5 at the National Assembly in Yeouido, the Bill Review Subcommittee 1 of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee conducted a legislative hearing on prosecution reform. The People Power Party demanded the exclusion of those under investigation by a special prosecutor from the list of selected witnesses and reference persons, as well as a ban on live television broadcasts. However, Kim Yongmin, the Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the subcommittee, rejected these requests.

Nakyungwon, a People Power Party lawmaker, stated during her remarks, "The legislative hearing includes cases that are currently under investigation or inspection," and added, "It appears that the hearing is being used as a pretext to influence ongoing trials or investigations."

Lawmakers from the Democratic Party called as witnesses and reference persons those involved in the Seoul City civil servant espionage fabrication case, the incident involving the loss of a sealed band related to the Geonjin Buddhist investigation, and the public opinion manipulation and election interference case. Of the 10 witnesses and 13 reference persons selected, only 5 witnesses and 11 reference persons attended the hearing.

Lawmaker Na said, "By calling in individuals who could influence investigations and trials under the name of a legislative hearing on the dissolution of the prosecution, isn't the National Assembly effectively conducting trials and investigations itself? I request that those witnesses and reference persons be excluded, and I will agree to the rest." She added, "The decision to make the hearing public through broadcasting or media lies with the chairperson, but I also request that this not be permitted."

Kim Yongmin, the subcommittee chair, responded, "Saying you will agree only if certain individuals are excluded disregards the Constitution and the National Assembly Act." Regarding the request to prohibit broadcasting, he stated, "The entire nation has the right to see this, so the proceedings will be broadcast from start to finish."

Lawmaker Na immediately protested, saying, "This is exactly Nazi dictatorship," and left the hearing with other People Power Party lawmakers.