Jeong Jeomsik: "Abolishing Supplementary Investigation Authority? Judiciary Committee Must Go to the Opposition... Speaker Cho Must Not Be a Rubber Stamp"

Jung Jeomsik, floor leader of the People Power Party, commented on June 26 regarding the government's decision not to submit its proposal on abolishing the supplementary investigative authority to the National Assembly. He stated, "Since the government has abdicated its role, the National Assembly must carry out careful supplementary legislation," adding, "This provides even greater justification for the People Power Party to take the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee."

At the party strategy meeting held that morning, Jung said, "President Lee Jaemyung has previously emphasized the need to partially retain the supplementary investigative authority, but this move is essentially a decision to give it up to ensure victory in the Myeongcheong Grand Battle at the Democratic Party's national convention." He continued with these remarks.

Jung Jeomsik, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on June 23, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Jung further stated, "Since the government has abandoned its role in detailed legislation and the enactment of enforcement decrees regarding the supplementary investigative authority, it is now up to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly to handle this. But can we entrust this to the hardliners of the Democratic Party in the committee?" He warned, "If there is no opposition party chair as a check, the Democratic Party hardliners will push through poorly crafted legislation, irreversibly damaging the investigative functions related to public safety and crime prevention."

Regarding the stalled negotiations on the composition of the National Assembly for the latter half of the term, he said, "The Democratic Party is threatening to take all 18 standing committee chairmanships if the list of committee members is not submitted by noon today, but the People Power Party will not flinch at such dictatorial threats." He urged, "Stop the politics of intimidation."

He also addressed National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeongsik, saying, "You must not become a rubber stamp for the ruling party," and appealed, "Speaker Cho should not become the vanguard of the Democratic Party's legislative dictatorship but, as a senior statesman of the Assembly, should put the brakes on the ruling party's unilateral drive without negotiation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.