Jeong Jeongsik Criticizes Ruling Party's Push for Criminal Procedure Act Amendment: "Lee-Democratic Party's Backroom Deal to End Trials and Prosecution... A Disgrace to Constitutional History"

Jeong Jeomsik, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated on July 30 that the ruling party's plan to push through an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act in the National Assembly—which includes the abolition of supplementary investigative rights—is a "political under-the-table deal between the President, who is seeking to eliminate his own criminal trial, and hardliners in the ruling party, who want to eliminate the prosecution." He further asserted, "This will be a disgrace in the history of constitutional government."

Jeong Jeomsik, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on July 28, 2026. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

During the Supreme Council meeting that morning, Jeong declared, "The President and the Democratic Party may be feeling triumphant at the brink of concluding their ugly political deal, but from this very moment, your downfall begins."

Jeong referred to the amendment as "an evil law that is the result of political bargaining," adding, "Various factions within the Democratic Party fiercely competed to demand the abolition of supplementary investigative rights in order to rally support from hard-line party members ahead of the party convention. They abandoned their duties as a responsible political party and used public safety as fuel for their convention."

Regarding the sudden inclusion in the amendment of conditions for a dismissal of indictment—such as 'grossly illegal investigations' and 'egregious misuse of prosecutorial discretion'—Jeong criticized it as "'Prosecutorial Dismissal Special Prosecution 2,' which is meant to nullify President Lee Jaemyung's criminal trial and to establish a court dedicated to dismissing indictments." He continued, "If the Democratic Party packages this with other measures and pushes it through the plenary session, and the President waives the veto, the political deal will be complete."

Jeong concluded by stating, "All responsibility for the crime wave that will occur as a result of abolishing supplementary investigative rights will rest squarely with President Lee Jaemyung and the Democratic Party."

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