Shin Jang-sik: "Public Prosecution Office Restructuring Is Just a Name Change for Prosecution... Will Seriously Reconsider Ties with Democratic Party if Reform Is Rolled Back"

Strong Opposition to the Democratic Party's Retreat on Real Estate Tax Policy
Shin Jangsik: "Respect for the Democratic Party's Move to Broaden to Moderates and Conservatives... But Do Not Go Too Far"

Shin Jang-sik, leader of the Party for Justice Innovation, characterized the government's proposed restructuring of the Public Prosecution Office, which has been promoted as 'prosecution reform,' as a "renaming of the prosecution rather than genuine reform." He added, "If we allow a regression of prosecution reform, the Innovation Party will have no choice but to seriously reconsider its relationship with the Democratic Party."

In his speech as the representative of a non-negotiating group at the National Assembly plenary session on the same day, Shin said, "The tower of prosecution reform, painstakingly built with the blood and sweat of the people, is now shaking," and declared, "The government's plan to revise the Public Prosecution Office’s organizational structure is simply unacceptable." Regarding the Ministry of Justice's proposal to increase the number of prosecutors by 281, he criticized, "This is behavior devoid of historical awareness, shame, sense of duty, or future vision," calling it "brazen and deceptive to the public."

Jung Sang-sik, leader of the Party for Justice Innovation, is delivering a speech as the representative of a non-negotiating group at the 5th Plenary Session of the 439th Regular Assembly held at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News

He also mentioned that the candidate for the newly established Central Investigation Office (Kim Jiyong) is a former prosecutor, pointing out, "Why has the leadership and members of the Democratic Party, the ruling party, remained silent on this issue?"

Shin further warned that if prosecution reform is rolled back, there could be changes in the cooperative relationship that has existed up to now.

In addition, regarding real estate policy and other issues, Shin expressed concerns about the Democratic Party's policy direction. In particular, he referenced the Democratic Party's discussion of retreating from the government’s comprehensive real estate tax overhaul out of concern for public opinion in the Seoul metropolitan area, asking, "If you abolish the comprehensive real estate tax altogether, will you win the general election?" He further questioned, "Where does the Democratic Party stand right now?"

He said that while he respects the Democratic Party's pursuit of centrist expansion, "do not go too far." Shin added, "The public has begun to doubt the Democratic Party’s commitment to reform," and advised, "In this era following the period of civil unrest, set your rudder firmly towards the true historical calling." He continued, "Demonstrate that the Democratic Party is a truly useful tool for reform."

Additionally, Shin proposed, "Let’s establish a Special Committee to Eliminate Inequality in the National Assembly," and suggested, "The committee should formulate a 'grand plan to eliminate inequality,' targeting a Gini coefficient below 0.3 and a Palma ratio of 1:1."

Explaining the Palma ratio, he said, "It is an income inequality index created by Professor Gabriel Palma of the University of Cambridge," and introduced it as "the ratio obtained by dividing the income share of the top 10% of the population by the income share of the bottom 40%."

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