"Majority Party's Tyranny"... Opposition Protests as Government Organization Act Passes Subcommittee

"Substantive Deliberation and Consensus Ignored"
Amendment Bill Expected to Pass the Plenary Session on the 25th

On September 18, the People Power Party strongly objected to the passage of the government organization law amendment bill, which includes the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office and the separation of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, through the first subcommittee of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee. The party condemned it as "an act of tyranny by the majority party."

On the 18th, members of the Financial Supervisory Service labor union shouted slogans at a rally opposing the separation of the Financial Consumer Protection Agency and the designation of the Financial Supervisory Service as a public institution, held in front of the National Assembly Station in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

Kwak Gyutaek, the chief spokesperson for the People Power Party's parliamentary group, stated in a commentary that afternoon, "The Democratic Party pushed through the government organization law amendment bill without any deliberation period, using the committee chair's authority and majority vote to force its introduction and passage." He emphasized, "Substantive discussion and consensus were thoroughly disregarded."

Kwak pointed out, "The issue of dismantling the prosecution, which has been maintained for 78 years, is an attempt to change Korea's criminal law system and threatens public safety. Concerns from both the public and the legal community are being raised daily." He added, "The reckless plan to separate and reorganize the Ministry of Economy and Finance and to transform the Financial Services Commission into the Financial Supervisory Commission is causing such a social ripple effect that even young employees inside the organization are lamenting it as a 'job scam.'"

He continued, "The People Power Party proposed a joint meeting of the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee, Environment and Labor Committee, and Legislation and Judiciary Committee, stating, 'This is a law directly linked to the future of the Republic of Korea and should not be rushed through.' However, the Democratic Party rejected even this proposal." He added, "We are beyond concerned and are deeply dismayed by how far the Lee Jaemyung administration and the Democratic Party intend to drive society into chaos."

After the bill passed the subcommittee, members of the People Power Party's Public Administration and Security Committee held a press conference, stating, "The government organization law amendment bill was unilaterally added to the agenda just one day after being submitted by the Democratic Party, introduced in two days, and passed the subcommittee on the third day." They criticized, "Once again, the Democratic Party is engaging in legislative tyranny by relying solely on its majority of seats, without providing any explanation for 'urgent and unavoidable reasons,' and pushing through the committee's decision."

They further stated, "During the review of the government organization law amendment bill yesterday, even the members of the Public Administration and Security Committee and the Minister of the Interior and Safety were unable to properly understand, ask about, or answer questions regarding matters from other ministries." They added, "It is astonishing to see the Democratic Party, which has trampled on parliamentary customs, now using those very customs as an excuse."

They also criticized, "During today's subcommittee review of the government organization law amendment bill, the amendment bill submitted by Kim Doeup, the People Power Party's Policy Committee Chairman, as well as other government organization law amendment bills, were excluded from the agenda." They argued, "It is clear that their only interest is in bills to protect Lee Jaemyung, with no regard for the operation of the state or the safety of the people."

On the 18th, at the first subcommittee of the Legislative and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly, Yoon Gunyoung, the subcommittee chairman, is striking the gavel. 2025.9.18 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Kang Minkook and Kim Jaeseop, members of the People Power Party serving on the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee, attended a rally held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul that afternoon, where labor union members and employees of the Financial Supervisory Service protested against the separation of the agency and its designation as a public institution. They condemned the government's attempt to reorganize government agencies.

Kang Minkook stated, "It makes no sense to dismantle and separate the Financial Supervisory Service simply because the president mentioned reducing the authority of the Ministry of Economy and Finance." He added, "This is a clear regression, an attempt to create a new era of government-controlled finance by placing the Financial Supervisory Service under government control." Kim Jaeseop also argued, "While there may be justification for reducing the power of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, there is no justification whatsoever for the government's attitude toward financial authorities."

The first subcommittee of the Public Administration and Security Committee processed the government organization law amendment bill through a vote that day, with People Power Party members absent. The amendment bill includes provisions to abolish the Prosecutors' Office, separate the prosecution's investigative and indictment functions to establish the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Prosecution Agency, and separate the Ministry of Economy and Finance into the Planning and Budget Office and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as well as reorganize the Financial Services Commission into the Financial Supervisory Commission.

The amendment bill is expected to be finalized at the full session of the Public Administration and Security Committee on the 22nd, followed by review by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 23rd and 24th, and finally processed at the plenary session on the 25th.