"Breach of Trust Is a Legacy of Authoritarian Regimes... It Has Been Abused"
To Be Abolished in the Regular Session and Economic Laws to Be Rationalized
Kim Byungki, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 22nd criticized opposition from politicians of the People Power Party, including former leader Han Donghoon, regarding the abolition of the crime of breach of trust. He stated that the claim that abolishing the breach of trust crime is a political move for President Lee Jaemyung is a "sigh-inducing idea" typical of political prosecutors.
At the Supreme Council meeting of the Democratic Party held at the National Assembly on this day, Assemblyman Kim refuted criticisms from former leader Han and People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jinwoo, who opposed the Democratic Party and Kim's call for abolishing the breach of trust crime. He said, "Former leader Han and Assemblyman Joo have come out against abolishing the breach of trust crime," and added, "Their reasoning is absurd-they claim it is a political measure for President Lee Jaemyung." He continued, "It is a sigh-inducing notion characteristic of political prosecutors," and pointed out, "The breach of trust crime is a legacy of authoritarian military regimes, and political prosecutors have abused it to indiscriminately prosecute businesspeople and suppress political opponents."
Kim Byungki, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 22nd. Photo by Yonhap News
Assemblyman Kim said, "I urge both of them to look back on the shameful history of political prosecutors and reflect first," adding, "The abolition of the breach of trust crime has long been a long-standing wish of the business community." He continued, "Politicians who are former political prosecutors are ignoring the business community's wishes and are only focused on political offensives," and criticized, "Such actions are pouring cold water on the recovering people's economy."
He stated, "We need to create an environment where companies can manage, invest, and increase employment freely," and announced, "The Democratic Party will remove the breach of trust crime in this regular session of the National Assembly. We will actively push for the rationalization of all economic criminal penalties."
Previously, Assemblyman Kim and the Democratic Party, as a supplementary measure to the amendment of the Commercial Act-which has been a concern for the business sector-have been reviewing supplementary measures, including the abolition of the breach of trust crime under the Commercial Act, Criminal Act, and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. In response, the People Power Party has also been considering various options such as mitigation, supplementation, and abolition to dispel the business community's concerns over the amendment to the Commercial Act. Regarding this, former leader Han claimed via social media, "Since it is certain that President Lee will be found guilty of breach of trust, they want to abolish the crime so that President Lee can receive a 'not guilty' verdict."
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