Photo courtesy of Yonhap News
The unrestricted discussion on the amendment to the Prosecutor’s Office Act, which was first proposed at the plenary session among the ‘Separation of Prosecutor’s Investigation Authority’ bill, ended automatically at the end of the extraordinary session of the National Assembly at 00:00 today.
When the Democratic Party of Korea proposed an amendment to the Prosecutor’s Office Act that would separate the prosecution’s investigative and prosecuting powers at the plenary session yesterday afternoon, and started processing the bill, the people’s power immediately began to engage in unrestricted discussion.
In the unrestricted debate that started right after the plenary session opened at 5 pm, floor leader Kwon Seong-dong, the leader of the People’s Power, took the first runner for two hours and three minutes to discuss, followed by four opposition lawmakers including Kim Jong-min of the Democratic Party, Kim Woong of the People’s Power, and Ahn Min-seok of the Democratic Party for 6 hours until midnight. We had a discussion for 48 minutes.
People’s Power Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong argued, “The reason the Democratic Party put an unreasonable number in the time of taking over is because they were afraid that the reality of corruption in the past five years, which had been barely blocked by the power of the president, would be exposed in front of the people.”
Then, he added, “If you attach a referendum, you can check whose assertion was more correct.”
Rep. Kim Woong, from People’s Power, also asked, “Why is the Democratic Party of Korea collapsing the criminal justice system that it has maintained for 70 years at once, as if it were a military operation?” and said, “The prosecution’s advancement and separation of investigation and prosecution are all lies. It’s to prevent things like blacklisting.”
On the other hand, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Jong-min said, “All investigations should be under control.” He said, “If we stop the political fight and discuss what to improve for just one year, we can open the path to democratic justice.” emphasized.
Rep. Ahn Min-seok criticized the prosecution’s investigation of bribes targeting the late Kim Jae-yun, a former member of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, as “a planned investigation by the political prosecution” and said, “(Political prosecution) We are preparing, and we will fight together with the people in this barbaric era.”
People’s Strength Kim Hyung-dong, Basic Income Party’s Yong Hye-in, and People’s Strength Rep. Kim Mi-ae were also waiting as the next speakers, but the Democratic Party and Chairman Park set the end of the session until midnight and did not get to the podium.
The Democratic Party plans to hold a new extraordinary National Assembly on the 30th to vote on the amendment to the Prosecutor’s Office Act, and to process the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act by the 3rd of next month.
