Jeong Cheong-rae, Commissioner of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 9th that the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which would suspend ongoing criminal trials upon the election of a president, will be passed on the 12th in the National Assembly.
Commissioner Jeong appeared on the YouTube show “Mae-bul Show” that day and mentioned the decision of the court handling President Lee Jae-myung's Public Official Election Act case to delay the retrial date, applying Article 84 of the Constitution regarding presidential immunity.
Commissioner Jeong commented on the court's decision, saying it “seems like a signal that they wish we wouldn't pass the 'Trial Suspension Act' in return for offering this kind of concession,” and noted that they held a meeting with floor leader Park Chan-dae in the morning to pass it on the 12th regardless of this decision.
He mentioned, “It would have been better if the criminal procedures were suspended under Article 84 (of the Constitution) before the presidential election,” and added, “It is not acceptable that they behave as if they are granting favors after waiting for the administration change while having been cautious until now.”
Commissioner Jeong also stated on the so-called ‘Supreme Court Justice Expansion Act,’ which pertains to amending the Court Organization Act, that “personally, I believe it should be handled in principle at the National Assembly session on the 12th.” The amendment to the Court Organization Act entails increasing the number of Supreme Court justices from the current 14 to 30.
Commissioner Jeong expressed that, “During the morning meeting, it was mentioned that we should not say, 'Since the court is being conciliatory, we will also respond in a conciliatory manner,'” and disclosed that he informed his aide to prepare for a meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at 11 a.m. on the 11th, a day before the session on the 12th.
Previously, on the 4th, the Democratic Party of Korea passed the Supreme Court Justice Expansion Act in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee subcommittee on bill review with votes solely from the Democratic Party members, as People's Power Party members, the opposition, had left.
However, Commissioner Jeong noted, “If there are various remarks from the presidential office, I can't do as I please, can I?” while stating, “I have coordinated with the party leadership so far.”