PPP Blasts "Hell's Gates Opened," DP Retaliates Against "Thoughtless Criticism"

[Anchor]

As the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act was approved at a Cabinet meeting without President Lee Jae-myung exercising his veto power, the People Power Party strongly protested, declaring that "hell's gates have opened." In response, the Democratic Party countered by denouncing the opposition's stance as "thoughtless criticism."

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the details.

[Reporter]

An emergency debate was held by the People Power Party this morning (August 4).

Ahead of the Cabinet meeting where the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act was to be tabled, the party urged President Lee Jae-myung to exercise his veto power.

[Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Lawmaker: Hell's gates have opened. This Criminal Procedure Act amendment is opposed by the vast majority of the public, and even the Minister of Justice and the acting Prosecutor General have offered to resign...]

However, when the amendment was approved at the Cabinet meeting without a veto, the People Power Party strongly lashed out.

They claimed that the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigative powers handed down a death sentence to the rule of law in South Korea, and argued that the failure to veto the bill—despite desperate opposition from violent crime victims and the general public—was aimed at securing safety for himself after leaving office.

[Jang Dong-hyeok / People Power Party Leader: He signed a malicious law that makes victims weep, all in an effort to wipe away his own trials.]

Kim Jin-joo, the victim of the "Busan roundhouse kick case" who previously left a comment on the social media of Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min—who spearheaded the legislation—telling him to "go to hell," said the following:

[Kim Jin-joo / Victim of the "Busan Roundhouse Kick Case": Crime victims are already living in hell right now. It has truly become hell for the victims. The ones who are suffering injustice (from this legislation) are the victims.]

The Democratic Party hit back, arguing that claims from the People Power Party about investigative vacuums and the passing-off of cases were intended to mislead the public.

In particular, the party stated that supplementary legislation regarding the "seven major crimes targeting vulnerable social groups"—to ensure they are not closed solely at the police stage—will be completed before October 2, when the Prosecution Service and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency are launched, while demanding an end to "thoughtless criticism."

[Park Byung-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: The People Power Party should stop groundless false incitement and cooperate on follow-up legislation and institutional adjustments to protect the rights and interests of victims.]

With the People Power Party planning to additionally introduce its own revision bill retaining supplementary investigative powers and file a constitutional complaint, the political standoff between the ruling and opposition parties over the criminal procedure reform is expected to continue.

(Video reporting: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing: Lee Seung-hee)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.