The Democratic Party of Korea criticized the People Power Party on the 9th, saying they are "holding back the president" after opposing the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which would halt ongoing criminal trials if the president is elected.

Park Chan-dae, the acting representative and floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, speaks at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Sep. 9. /Courtesy of News1

Jeon Hyeon-hee, a senior member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at a senior executive meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "Kim Yong-tae, the emergency committee chairperson of the People Power Party, suddenly demanded equality before the law and questioned the president's stance on the trial's progress," adding that "it is truly shameless to hinder the president's efforts for normalizing state affairs from the start."

Previously, chairperson Kim held a press conference the previous day (8th) and asked, "Is the amendment to the Public Official Election Act, which deletes 'action' from the requirements of false information announcement crime, the Criminal Procedure Act to suspend ongoing criminal trials upon presidential election, and the Court Organization Act, which contains the increase of Supreme Court justices, the 'President Shield Laws' for the president's personal benefit or not?"

Senior member Jeon argued, "The president's trial is originally a product of the political purge scheme of Yoon Seok-yeol's prosecution dictatorship," urging the People Power Party, "If you truly want to demand equality before the law, set the arrest of Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Keon-hee as your party line."

Kim Byung-joo, another senior member, stated this is "a confirmatory legislation to preemptively prevent conflicts between the constitutional privilege of non-prosecution and the actual operation of trials," adding, "If the president is embroiled in incidents under trial before inauguration or in lawsuits during the term, can the state affairs be properly managed?"

The Democratic Party is expected to bring the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act to the plenary session anticipated to be held on the 12th.

After the senior executive meeting, Han Min-su, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party, met with reporters and mentioned, "There is a high possibility that the Criminal Procedure Act will be tabled (at the next plenary session)," yet added, "Further discussion is needed for the remaining bills as there are also standing committees."