The Presidential Office expressed strong displeasure toward the Democratic Party of Korea over conflicts surrounding prosecution reform, stating it hopes "the ruling party would handle matters as a ruling party should."
While dismissing the "indictment withdrawal deal" allegations raised on Kim Ou-joon's News Factory as "inappropriate fake news," analysts suggest the office revealed deep frustration with the ruling party for providing the catalyst for this controversy.
Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, appeared on KBS 1TV's "Sasageongeon" on the 13th and addressed criticism of prosecution reform legislation from hardliners within the Democratic Party. "I hope the ruling party would handle matters as a ruling party should," Hong said.
"When there are disagreements, opposition parties typically hold press conferences or launch attacks publicly because they engage in anti-government struggles," Hong noted. "But hasn't the Democratic Party become the ruling party now?"
He emphasized that "the ruling party is one pillar of the administration and a partner in governing the nation," adding that "there needs to be deliberation on improving completeness by coordinating issues internally."
Hong elaborated that "President Lee Jae-myung maintains a consistent position that prosecution reform, in whatever form, must be developed through party-government cooperation under three principles: separating investigation and indictment functions, correcting the prosecution's improper practices, and preventing harm to ordinary citizens."
Hong's remarks are interpreted as directed at hardliners within the Democratic Party and the leadership under Chung Chung-rae. Party hardliners have strongly opposed the government's follow-up prosecution reform proposal, calling it "a second Prosecutors' Office Act with just a name change."
Some critics argue that the hardliners' actions provided fodder for the recent "indictment withdrawal deal" controversy. However, Hong added, "Representative Chung has repeatedly said he will 'take responsibility for coordinating and deciding on this proposal,' so we expect resolution in the near future."
Regarding the indictment withdrawal deal allegations, Hong dismissed them as "not worth a moment's consideration for response."
"It's so absurd that I don't know how to react," he said. "We're busy and don't have time to respond individually to such groundless claims."
Nevertheless, he struck a sharp tone, stating, "This is highly inappropriate as it could potentially undermine public trust in the government and its policies."