Discord resurfaced between the Democratic Party of Korea leadership and lawmakers on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Although an internal line was set to refrain from hardline messages related to judicial and prosecutorial issues during President Lee Jae-myung's trip to the Middle East and Africa, Legislation and Judiciary Committee members filed complaints against 18 chief prosecutors without prior consultation, prompting strong displeasure from the ruling party leadership. Critics say the lack of in-party communication and coordination has once again come to the surface.
Democratic Party Legislation and Judiciary Committee members announced on the 19th that they would file criminal complaints against 18 chief prosecutors who opposed the decision to drop the appeal in the Daejang-dong case, on suspicion of violating the State Public Officials Act. The leadership was not informed in advance and was reportedly taken aback.
Floor spokesperson Kim Hyun-jung said after a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly on the 20th, "Regarding the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's complaint against the chief prosecutors, there was no prior discussion with the floor leadership or the party leadership. It was discussed and pursued at the committee level." She added, "The leadership holds the view that during the president's overseas trip, it should be a time to fully share diplomatic achievements with the public."
In particular, Floor Leader Kim Byung-kee publicly showed discomfort the previous afternoon at the committee members' solo move. "For such a sensitive matter, it should be pushed forward in lockstep while communicating with the Ministry of Justice. Shouldn't there have been consultations?" he said, adding, "They (the committee) should be responsible for the fallout."
Earlier, the leadership had ramped up pressure over the collective pushback by chief prosecutors, even introducing a "prosecutor dismissal bill," but set a course to refrain from tit-for-tat responses during the president's trip. On the 17th, Floor Leader Kim said, "We will make sure that whenever the president goes abroad, achievements will no longer be overshadowed." However, when the committee members acted independently without coordination with the leadership, concerns reportedly arose internally that "the president's diplomatic message may be obscured again."
This is not the first time the Legislation and Judiciary Committee has moved on its own without separate consultations with the leadership. In September, Democratic Party committee members unilaterally and abruptly approved holding a confirmation hearing for Chief Justice nominee Cho Hee-dae, saying they would uncover "suspicions of the judiciary's interference in the presidential election." Even then, the leadership expressed dismay, saying "there was no prior discussion," and Floor Leader Kim was said to have expressed regret and issued a warning to the committee members. In particular, as the president's diplomatic schedule, including a visit to the U.N. General Assembly, was overshadowed by the "Cho Hee-dae black hole," criticism emerged inside and outside the party that "the president is nowhere to be seen."
Committee members say the complaints against the chief prosecutors were unavoidable. Lawmaker Kim Gi-pyo, a member of the committee, said in a KBS radio "Jeonggyeok Sisa" interview that morning, "There was some heated debate about filing the complaints," adding, "There were some in favor and some against, but internally, opinions coalesced that we must show a firm response to violations of political neutrality and collective action, so that this can serve as a response if prosecutors try to turn into a political force in the future."
Meanwhile, the committee plans to convene a bill review subcommittee that day to discuss amendments to the Criminal Act that would punish judges and prosecutors who manipulate evidence or distort facts in rendering judgments under a "crime of legal distortion," and amendments to the Attorney‑at‑Law Act that would restrict case intake for a certain period after a judge's retirement. However, within the leadership there is a current that related discussions should be paced during the trip. Floor spokesperson Kim said of the related bills, "They were not discussed with the floor and proceeded, and are at the stage of discussion at the subcommittee level," adding, "The method, pace, and intensity are areas requiring political judgment."
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