'It will be D-Day for the destruction of the criminal justice system'

'Security conspiracy theories and mockery are in the Democratic Party's DNA'

People Power Party Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik criticizes the government's response to a suspected North Korean landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone at a press briefing at the National Assembly on Wednesday. [Yonhap]
People Power Party Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik criticizes the government's response to a suspected North Korean landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone at a press briefing at the National Assembly on Wednesday. [Yonhap]

People Power Party Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik warned Wednesday that a sweeping overhaul of South Korea's criminal justice system is just two days away, saying fears that the day will mark "D-Day for the destruction of that system" are becoming reality.

Speaking at a press briefing at the National Assembly, Jeong said concerns have grown beyond a train "leaving with the doors open" to one being "scrapped with the doors open."

He said he expects the party to hold an outdoor general assembly Thursday to inform the public and demand government action against the revised Code of Criminal Procedure, which takes effect Friday. "Sufficient discussion has already taken place among lawmakers," he added. The PPP has also announced a street rally at Sungnyemun Gate on Saturday.

Jeong also said "the most serious problem is the complete vacancy at the top of all four key agencies" — the Justice Ministry, the Prosecution Service, the Serious Crime Investigation Agency and the Korean National Police Agency. "What is particularly incomprehensible is the candidate for director of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency," he said. "The president's appointment authority has been held hostage by hardliners within the ruling party, leaving him unable to move in either direction — the worst kind of lame-duck situation."

He urged President Lee Jae Myung to make a decision soon on the fate of Kim Ji-yong, the nominee for director of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency. "Nominee Kim's leadership has been severely damaged," Jeong said. "It may be better to boldly withdraw the nomination and find someone new."

Jeong also kept up criticism over the government and ruling party's handling of the landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone. He particularly took aim at Democratic Party lawmaker Jin Seong-jun, chair of the National Assembly's Defense Committee, who said Tuesday that it is difficult to conclude the mine "was planted with the intent to harm our troops." Jeong called the remark "outright treasonous conspiracy-mongering" and demanded Jin step down from the committee chairmanship.

"Experts were certain from right after the incident that it was a North Korean provocation, yet the president repeated hollow slogans about peaceful coexistence in his UN speech," Jeong said. "That is why suspicions are arising that the president's inexplicable behavior has given North Korea leverage over him. Conspiracy theories and mockery on security issues are embedded in the Democratic Party's DNA."

On Kim Yo-jong, a senior official of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, flatly denying responsibility for the explosion in a statement, Jeong said, "North Korea's innate nature is fraud and intimidation." He said the government's top priority should be to "declare the abandonment of its policy of submission to North Korea."

Meanwhile, on the ruling party's plan to push through amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Urban Improvement Act at a plenary session of the National Assembly Thursday, Jeong said the PPP has proposed a bipartisan revised bill and is "reviewing all options, including a filibuster," depending on its contents.

When asked about Democratic Party leader Han Byung-do's pledge not to call a vote to end debate if the PPP launches a filibuster, Jeong said he was "very grateful." PPP floor operations deputy leader Kim Seung-su added that "many lawmakers are confident about the filibuster and many have volunteered."

Jeong also criticized the ruling party's opposition to calling witnesses at the parliamentary audit of the Financial Services Commission related to single-stock leveraged ETFs, calling it "a cheap attempt to turn the audit into a toothless exercise."


mp1256@heraldcorp.com