Kim Byung-ki, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the People Power Party's full-scale filibuster aimed at blocking judicial reform bills, saying Wednesday that "the People Power Party, which has ignored public sentiment and turned its back on people's livelihoods, must reflect on its actions."
"They talk about people's livelihoods, but their baseless filibuster has brought the lives of citizens and the future of our nation to a standstill," Kim said at a party policy meeting at the National Assembly.
"There are so many bills that need to be processed right now," he said, calling on the ruling party to cooperate on passing legislation including the Semiconductor Special Act, the Voice Phishing Victim Refund Special Act, the Framework Act on Disaster and Safety Management, the National Fire Hospital Act, and the National Merit Act.
Regarding a Criminal Act revision that would expand the scope of espionage charges from the current "enemy state" to "foreign countries or equivalent organizations," Kim said, "Technology leaks are not just economic crimes but security crimes. This is why the spy law revision must be passed as soon as possible."
"The spy law revision, which both parties worked together to create and promised to process quickly, has yet to cross the threshold of a plenary session," he said. "Nothing is more important than the national interest. I urge the People Power Party to make a decisive move."
On the insurrection special counsel's official announcement of investigation conclusions the previous day, Kim called it "an important milestone for restoring constitutional order," while noting that "some key issues remain unresolved, including the planning of the insurrection and whether higher-ups were involved in the command structure."
"Above all, the issue of accountability is urgent," he added. "The trial must not be delayed. It must proceed swiftly and decisively. Through stern punishment, the fact that the Republic of Korea will never tolerate anti-constitutional forces must be clearly inscribed in the history of democracy."
