People Power Party Adopts Party Line Opposing Indictment Cancellation Special Prosecutor Bill... To Hold National Foundation Day Rally Against Government

Jung Jeongsik: “Do-or-die resolve to block indictment cancellation”
Status of filibuster on Industrial Safety Act and Urban Renewal Act undecided

On September 29, the People Power Party adopted a party line opposing the special prosecutor bill to cancel (or manipulate) indictments, which is being driven by the Democratic Party of Korea. The party also decided to hold a rally condemning the policy failures of the Lee Jaemyung administration on October 3.

At the general assembly of lawmakers held at the National Assembly that afternoon, the People Power Party approved the adoption of this party opinion and confirmed plans to hold a protest rally on National Foundation Day.

Jeong Jeongsik, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking about the parliamentary situation and response strategy at a lawmakers' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Floor Leader Jung Jeongsik stated at the meeting, "The opposition is approaching the indictment cancellation issue with a resolve of 'do or die' and will do everything possible to stop it." He added, "We resolve to oppose the special prosecutor bill for indictment cancellation as our party line." He also said, "This is a clear warning to the Lee Jaemyung administration; if you push forward with the cancellation of indictments, you should keep in mind that this will pave the way for impeachment, resignation, and regime change."

Jung also addressed the rejection by the Democratic Party of a parliamentary investigation into single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and expressed his intention to push for a related special prosecutor. He said, "We will push for a special prosecutor on leveraged ETFs as our party line," emphasizing, "Even if it is scrapped, rejected, or vetoed due to the majority party's (ruling party’s) power, we will definitely see it through—if not in the 22nd National Assembly, then in the 23rd."

At the general assembly, the People Power Party also specified its plans for the government-protest rally to be held on October 3 (National Foundation Day). As the revised Criminal Procedure Act is scheduled to take effect on October 2, the party also discussed options for additional rallies to be held by lawmakers on either October 1 or 2, potentially at relevant sites.

After the meeting, Chief Spokesperson for the Party in the National Assembly, Choi Sujin, told reporters that at the rally, "We will join the struggle over issues such as the abolition of the prosecution service and the abolishment of supplementary investigation rights under the revised Criminal Procedure Act, as well as the collapse of the judicial system, the Lee Jaemyung administration’s failures to address people's livelihoods, the real estate crisis, and other circumstances that have caused public outrage." On the subject of additional rallies, she said, "They may be held at the Serious Crimes Investigation Office or outdoors," adding, "The exact location has not yet been decided."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party announced that it would handle the special prosecutor bill on indictment cancellation, which had been expected to be put to a plenary vote on October 1, after the National Assembly audit. During the Democratic Party’s lawmakers’ meeting held later that afternoon, discussions emerged about submitting the Industrial Safety and Health Act as well as the Urban Renewal Act for consideration. Chief Spokesperson Choi stated that "(an agreement between the parties on the two bills) has not yet been reached." Regarding whether a filibuster (unlimited debate) would be launched, she said, "No (final decision) has been made yet."

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