“No recommends a special prosecutor candidate at will… Political bias in the special prosecutor’s investigation can be fully predicted.”
Lee Jae-myeong targets cut of special activity expenses, “Suspicion has been raised about Gyeonggi-do’s personal use of business expenses, you need to reflect on yourself.”
Presidential Office Spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon is briefing on current issues at the Presidential Office Building in Yongsan, Seoul on the 29th. / Photo = Yonhap News On the 29th, the President’s Office criticized the opposition party’s passage of an amendment to the National Assembly rules recommending a permanent special prosecutor candidate while excluding the ruling party from investigations targeting the president or his relatives, calling it “clearly unconstitutional.”
Presidential Office Spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon said at a press briefing that day, “The opposition party is trying to monopolize the right to recommend to the National Assembly, which violates the principle of separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches.”
Spokesperson Jeong pointed out, “By appointing all four people recommended by the National Assembly as their puppets, the Democratic Party’s intention is to recommend special prosecutor candidates at will, and the Democratic Party will monopolize investigation and prosecution to make it its own prosecutor.”
At the same time, he criticized, “It is said that players who are supposed to play in the game will decide the rules and referees of the game to suit their own tastes,” and that “it is fully predictable how politically biased the special prosecutor’s investigation will be.”
He added, “This is clearly unconstitutional as it undermines the political neutrality of the special prosecutor and violates the executive branch’s right to prosecute and the president’s right to appoint, violating the separation of powers.”
Spokesperson Jeong also said that the opposition party’s sole push to push through the Grain Law Management Act and the National Assembly Act amendments, “appears to be an attempt to induce the President’s right to request reconsideration,” adding, “The four laws under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, including the Grain Act, are bills that even producer groups, including farmers, are concerned about.” “He pointed out.
Regarding the amendment to the National Assembly Act, which aims to abolish the automatic budget system, he said, “It contains unconstitutional content that the deadline for processing the budget will not be kept,” and “The damage caused by the delay in the National Assembly’s resolution will be felt by the people and will ultimately cause damage to the people’s livelihood.” pointed out.
When asked whether the President’s Office would exercise its right to request reconsideration of the Grain Act and National Assembly Act amendments, an official from the President’s Office responded, “The President’s Office has always maintained the principle of not compromising on unconstitutional or illegal laws. I think you can look at it from this perspective.” .
Lastly, regarding the opposition party’s attempt to cut the budget for special activities such as the President’s Office, he responded, “Which citizen would view the opposition party’s overall attempt to cut the budget necessary for the execution of legitimate public affairs as justified?”
At the same time, targeting Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party, he criticized, saying, “In the case of the opposition party leader, suspicions are being raised that he took all the business promotion funds from all departments in Gyeonggi Province and used them for personal use,” and added, “It seems he needs to look at himself first.”
Kim Young-ri, Hankyung.com reporter [email protected]
## Political Storm Brews Over Special Prosecutor Legislation: An Expert Analysis
**World-Today-News.com** exclusive interview with Dr. Kim Min-ji, a leading expert on Korean political law and constitutional governance at Seoul National University, regarding teh recent amendment to National Assembly rules regarding special prosecutors.
**World-Today-News**: Dr. Kim, the opposition party’s passage of the amendment allowing a special prosecutor to be recommended without the ruling party’s input has sparked fierce debate. What are the key concerns surrounding this legislation?
**Dr. kim:** At the heart of the controversy lies the potential for politicization of justice. The move effectively grants the opposition party unilateral control over the appointment process, raising concerns about impartiality and potential for abuse.
The amendment allows for the nomination of a special prosecutor candidate without the ruling party’s consent, specifically in cases involving the president or their relatives.Critics argue this opens the door for politically motivated investigations, potentially targeting individuals based on partisan agendas rather than genuine wrongdoing.
**World-Today-News**: The ruling party contends that this amendment undermines the principle of checks and balances. How valid is this argument?
**Dr. Kim:** The balance of power within a democratic system is a delicate one, and the amendment does raise concerns about potential overreach by the opposition. The absence of the ruling party’s involvement in the selection process could lead to a perception of biased investigations, eroding public trust in the fairness of the legal system.
Moreover, the amendment’s focus on investigations specifically targeting the president or their relatives suggests a targeted approach that could be exploited for political gain.
**World-Today-News**: the opposition party argues that the amendment is necessary to ensure accountability and openness in cases of suspected corruption involving powerful individuals. What is your perspective on this?
**Dr. Kim:** While accountability is crucial, the chosen method should not compromise the principles of due process and fairness.
A more nuanced approach, involving a bipartisan consensus-building mechanism, could ensure both transparency and impartiality. This could involve establishing an autonomous commission with representatives from various political parties, legal experts, and civil society to oversee the nomination process and safeguard against political influence.
**World-Today-News**: how likely is it that this amendment will further exacerbate already heightened political tensions in South Korea?
**Dr. Kim**: The amendment has undoubtedly inflamed political tensions, with both sides accusing the other of undermining democratic norms.
This situation underscores the need for constructive dialog and compromise to bridge the partisan divide. Reaching a consensus on a less divisive approach to addressing concerns about accountability and corruption would be crucial to restoring trust in the political system and preserving the integrity of the justice system.
**World-Today-News**: Dr. Kim, thank you for your insightful analysis.
**dr. kim:** My pleasure.
This situation continues to unfold, and World-Today-News will continue to provide updates and analysis as it develops.
