Rep. Suh Young-kyo of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has taken over as chair of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, called on the People Power Party Wednesday to stop demanding the committee chairmanship and instead submit its list of committee members to join standing committee activities. She also reaffirmed her commitment to swiftly pushing forward legislation, saying prosecution reform is a task that can no longer be delayed.
In a YTN Radio interview that day, Suh addressed the hardline image surrounding her, saying, "I conduct meetings reasonably." She added, "We passed livelihood legislation, and I will run the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in the direction the public wants while listening carefully to the voices of the ruling and opposition parties as well as other parties."
Regarding the People Power Party's demand for the committee chairmanship, she said, "For a person shouting 'Yoon Again' to be a party leader candidate while demanding the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship is throwing a tantrum." She argued, "The Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship should be held by the Democratic Party to accelerate reform, in accordance with the seat distribution the people have given and the historical mission that must be carried out now." She continued, "Since the role is to protect victims and punish criminals so that no one is harmed, rather than demanding the committee chairmanship, the right thing to do is to form the committee membership and join the committee's activities."
She also expressed her intention to push forward prosecution reform with a sense of urgency. Suh said, "This is a historic period in which prosecution reform must be finalized and completed." She added, "Without missing the golden time, we will discuss it meticulously, but once conclusions are reached, we will process it quickly." Regarding the revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, which centers on abolishing the prosecution's investigative powers, she said, "The prosecution should function as an institution that protects human rights, focusing on indictments and warrant requests." She added, "We will also add safeguards to prevent the abuse of police power during the legislative process."
On the People Power Party's absence from standing committees, she said, "Since the formation of committees has been delayed for over a month, the National Assembly must now be put into operation." She explained, "It is not that we intend to take all 18 standing committee chairmanships. The Democratic Party's position is that the People Power Party should join as soon as possible so we can work together."
Regarding the appointment of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's floor coordinator, she said, "I think the People Power Party will send a coordinator suited to the number of terms and standing." She added, "I don't think Rep. Na Kyung-won will come to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee."
