On the 2nd, the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party clashed vigorously during an emergency inquiry by the National Assembly's Legal and Judicial Committee regarding the Supreme Court's ruling on the public election law violation case involving presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. Democratic Party lawmakers criticized it as a "judicial coup," while People Power Party lawmakers countered that it denies the legitimacy of the judiciary's ruling.

Jeong Cheong-rae, the Chairman of the Legislative and Judiciary Committee, presents a bill to amend the Criminal Procedure Act at the full meeting of the Legislative and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Dec. 2. /Courtesy of News1

◇ "Supreme Court intervenes in politics" vs. "denial of judicial ruling legitimacy"

Park Kyun-taek, a Democratic Party lawmaker, claimed, "This is the largest presidential election intervention incident by the Supreme Court since former President Syngman Rhee committed judicial murder by sentencing his political opponent, Cho Bong-am, to death."

Kim Ki-pyo, also from the Democratic Party, stated, "The Supreme Court has completely abandoned its political neutrality and interfered in the political sphere," and questioned, "Can the public really believe it expedited the trial just to uphold the '6-3-3 principle'?" The 6-3-3 principle refers to the regulation that in election-related cases, the first trial must conclude within 6 months, and the second and third trials must reach a conclusion within 3 months each.

Lawmaker Park Hee-seung asked, "I understand the record is over 60,000 to 70,000 pages, did the Supreme Court justices read all of this?"

On the other hand, the People Power Party condemned, "The National Assembly is pressuring the judiciary."

Jo Bae-suk, a People Power Party lawmaker, expressed deep concern, saying, "The Democratic Party denies the legitimacy of the judiciary's judgment and attempts to portray (Lee) as a political scapegoat," adding, "They should take responsible action before the public and voluntarily resign from the candidacy now."

Joo Jin-woo, a lawmaker and legal advisor to the People Power Party, strongly criticized, "There was a Supreme Court decision yesterday, and for the National Assembly to immediately discuss the specifics of the ruling and pressure the court through an inquiry is an example of the legislative branch invading the judicial branch."

Yoo Sang-bum, the ruling party's representative on the Legislative and Judicial Committee, raised his voice, stating, "It's hypocritical to only discuss the Supreme Court's deliberation time without mentioning the fact that the trials in the first and second instances were delayed."

Vice Administrator Bae Hyung-won (right) answers questions regarding the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the guilty verdict in relation to Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate's violation of the Public Office Election Act, during the full meeting of the Legislative and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Dec. 2, while photos of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae and Supreme Court justices in favor of the overturning are shown. /Courtesy of News1

◇ Democratic Party pushes for amendment of criminal procedure law... People Power Party calls it a "legislative coup"

Both sides clashed over the criminal procedure law amendment proposed by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min.

The proposed amendment includes provisions to suspend criminal trials if a defendant is elected president during their term. Current Article 84 of the Constitution states, "The president shall not be subject to criminal prosecution during their term, except in cases of insurrection or treason."

Here, the interpretation of whether prosecution only refers to the prosecutor's filing of charges or also includes ongoing trials is sharply contested.

The Democratic Party has interpreted that the concept of prosecution includes trial procedures. The criminal procedure law amendment proposed by the Democratic Party that day reflected this intent.

Kim stated, "According to Article 246 of the criminal procedure law, 'prosecution must be initiated and carried out by the prosecutor,’ and carrying out means conducting a trial," and explained, "It is crucial to codify this in law to avoid any concerns that something so obvious is not being properly enforced."

In response, the People Power Party strongly rebutted, calling it "an unprecedented legislative coup."

Shin Dong-uk, the chief spokesperson, stated in a comment that day, "The Democratic Party has lost its reason. Just a day after the Supreme Court's guilty ruling, they have brought out the 'Lee Jae-myung shield law,'" and criticized, "To forcibly suspend even ongoing trials is a destruction of the rule of law and a flagrant violation of equality before the law."

He added, "If this bill passes, it will create a country where one can avoid trial simply by becoming president after committing a crime," and described it as a "direct challenge to democracy and the rule of law."

The outcry continued on social media.

Kwon Young-se, the emergency response committee chairman, criticized on his Facebook, "If 'imperial presidency' isn't enough, it seems they want to make it outright 'monarch,'" and Na Kyung-won stated, "This is an act that shakes the foundations of the state. It only continuously produces paralysis of state affairs and distortion of constitutional order."

Jang Dong-hyuk stated, "This legislation is solely to save Lee Jae-myung and an outrageous defiance against the Supreme Court ruling."

Additionally, during the Legal and Judicial Committee meeting that day, Chairman Jeong Cheong-rae issued a warning and expulsion order to Kwon Gyu-taek, a People Power Party lawmaker, for obstructing the proceedings. In response, lawmakers from the People Power Party held a press conference, criticizing it as "an assault on legislative proceedings disguised as legal procedure.‘