One DP lawmaker opposes special court, another criticizes influential YouTuber

Jung Chung-rae, chair of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized the eradication of forces behind the alleged insurrection on Dec. 3, 2024, in about half of his National Assembly speech Tuesday.

The word "insurrection" was mentioned 26 times. He warned the main opposition People Power Party that "if it fails to sever ties with the insurrection forces, it could be the target for the Constitutional Court's judgment on whether it is an unconstitutional party to be disbanded." Cooperation with the opposition party was not mentioned even once.

In the speech, Jung argued that many people were demanding the setup of a special tribunal for the crime of insurrection.

Park Hee-seong, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said at a meeting of the party's committee for responses to special counsel probes into three cases, including the alleged insurrection, Monday that seeking to establish a special tribunal for insurrection was a very dangerous thought.

He said that the Assembly's direct attacks on the ongoing trial of the insurrection case and its attempt to process the bill was equivalent to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, in violation of the separation of the three powers of government.

He said that under the Constitution, the court has judicial power and that if a special court is established on an unjustified basis, its constitutionality could be in a legal jeopardy later.

Every word he said rings true.

Under the bill, the National Assembly speaker, the judge representative conference and the Korean Bar Association each recommend three members of the judge recommendation committee. The tribunal would be established under the Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul High Court for the first and second trials, respectively. Related warrants would be issued exclusively by a judge of the special court.

Judicial power belongs only to the judicial branch, which consists of judges, so it obviously goes against the Constitution for persons who are not judges to become involved in judicial affairs.

Considering the party's drive to eliminate insurrection forces, the risk of being criticized by its avid supporters as a turncoat and possible disfavor in the party's next contest to pick its Assembly candidates, Park's remarks would not have been easy to make.

Kwak Sang-eon, another Democratic Party legislator, expressed concerns Monday about the growing influence of Kim Eo-jun, a pro-Democratic Party YouTube channel operator, on the party.

Kim is rumored to play "kingmaker" within the party. It is a widely accepted view that hard-line members of the party, many of whom are supporters of Kim as well, might have voted for Jung in the election of its leader.

The number of the party's lawmakers who have appeared on his YouTube talk show at least once is 106, including Jung. Kang Hoon-sik, President Lee Jae Myung's chief of staff, appeared on Kim's program on Aug. 29, four days after the Korea-US summit. Speaker Woo Won-shik, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and former President Moon Jae-in attended a large-scale event that Kim hosted in June.

Kwak said that he was one of the 65 Democratic Party lawmakers reported by media to have not appeared on Kim's channel at all for a year to late August, and that, as a politician, he had no desire to kowtow to Kim or any other powerful YouTuber.

Kim has shared consensus with ardent supporters of the Democratic Party for a long time. Criticism of him has seldom been heard from the party.

Each individual member of the National Assembly is regarded as a constitutional institution. A lawmaker as an independent entity should be able to say and do what serves the nation and its people. In the degenerative atmosphere where voices against hard-liners are not heard, Park and Kwak courageously presented dissenting opinions.

Jung needs to listen to dissenters within his party, not only to the hardcore supporters.


khnews@heraldcorp.com