- Supplementary investigative powers: Aware of internal party disagreements, but they must be completely abolished
- Prosecution is playing the media; did the prosecution's power grow this big?
- Police issues? Didn't the prosecution do the same in cases like the Revolutionary Party (Inhyukdang) incident?
- No unconstitutionality, but since there are differing opinions within the party, let's deliberate carefully
- Preferential voting system must be implemented; even the National Assembly Speaker primary used it
- Opposition from the pro-Chung faction? The preferential voting system was used even during his time as party leader
- Kim Min-seok's Hudan-hyeop issue: It wouldn't be bad if it is clearly explained now
- At the time of Hudan-hyeop, the Blue House told Kim Min-seok absolutely not to leave the party
- It is actually better to explain it well while Kim enjoys overwhelming support
- "Gyeom-gong" CCTV controversy? It is natural for the media not to reveal their sources
- Cho Kuk's Rescene controversy... Doing that will only alienate him further from the public
- There are voices even within the Rebuilding Korea Party suggesting Cho Kuk should stay abroad for a while

■ Broadcast: SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show (FM 103.5 MHz 7:00 – 9:00 AM)
■ Date: July 13, 2026 (Mon)
■ Host: Attorney Kim Tae-hyun
■ Guest: Representative Park Jie-won of the Democratic Party of Korea

[Kim Tae-hyun]: We meet him every other week. Let's talk with Representative Park Jie-won of the Democratic Party of Korea, a "9th-dan" political veteran. Hello.

[Park Jie-won]: Hello.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Representative, there is a huge stir right now regarding the supplementary investigative powers, both in the Democratic Party's national convention and elsewhere. It seems this issue is being raised within the party even more than the convention itself. What is your position? Do you think it should just be abolished as is?

[Park Jie-won]: It must be completely abolished.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Completely abolished.

[Park Jie-won]: Of course, there are various doubts about the police's recent investigative capabilities, but we cannot go back from a reformed Lee Jae-myung prosecution to a political prosecution, a Yoon Suk-yeol prosecution. Therefore, we must proceed while upholding the principle of separating investigation and indictment.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.

[Park Jie-won]: Regarding this, Lee Seok-yeon, chairperson of the National Integration Committee, says there is a possibility of unconstitutionality, but in my view, there is none at all. This is because even now, when the police initiate and conduct investigations, all search and seizure warrants and arrest warrants must still be processed through the prosecution, through a prosecutor. And if a prosecutor wants to conduct investigations, they can just join the investigative agency. They can apply there. That is why we must do this.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.

[Park Jie-won]: Of course, as I mentioned at the beginning, there is public skepticism about the police's investigative capabilities, and all media, especially Minbyun (Lawyers for a Democratic Society) as well...

[Kim Tae-hyun]: ...are concerned about or oppose complete abolition.

[Park Jie-won]: They are concerned about complete abolition, and a few people within our party, including Representative Lee So-young, are raising such issues, but I believe it must be completely abolished.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Former Representative Jung Chung-rae said in a speech yesterday, "It must be abolished down to the last drop of broth." Do you agree with this stance regarding the abolition of supplementary investigative powers?

[Park Jie-won]: If I agree, that would make me "pro-Chung." But what he said is correct.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: But wouldn't we need institutional supplementary measures? Because Democratic Party lawmakers who worry about complete abolition say this is not just about political prosecutors, but that vulnerable groups like ordinary citizens and women could end up suffering if we are not careful. As we can see from the recent Jang Yoon-ki case. So shouldn't we leave something in place?

[Park Jie-won]: Well, the Jang Yoon-ki case is... and the prosecution is playing the media by creating issues out of things like the Busan mayoral candidate's staged attack.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: You mean Jung Ee-han.

[Park Jie-won]: Also, our society really didn't realize how powerful the prosecution's influence was. However, the President also told us to deliberate carefully, and even within our party, and especially progressive media like Minbyun, they mostly seem to be leaning that way. We should discuss these issues a bit more in the National Assembly.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Kim Eo-jun also said something similar regarding the media coverage surrounding the Jang Yoon-ki case: "This is a type of case that happens a few times a year, but they are manipulating public opinion to claim that supplementary investigative powers should not be abolished." You used the term "playing the media" just now. Do you agree with his statement?

[Park Jie-won]: Factory Manager Kim Eo-jun is right. The Jang Yoon-ki case doesn't happen all year round. It happens a few times a year, but because the act itself is an outrage against humanity, we must eliminate it. We must investigate thoroughly. The police have no excuse for this. So, if the police who caused such problems are indeed the issue, let's deliberate on those matters a bit more. That's what I mean.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: But you are saying that just because a few such cases occurred, we cannot hand supplementary investigative powers back to the prosecution, right?

[Park Jie-won]: Should we avoid making soy sauce just because we are afraid of maggots?

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Then, if we completely abolish this...

[Park Jie-won]: Was the prosecution's investigation any better? They did far worse things. They executed people in the Revolutionary Party (Inhyukdang) incident, Cho Bong-am, and many other political... even in my case, right?

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Then, for now, what kind of supplementary measures or alternatives to complete abolition do you have in mind, Representative?

[Park Jie-won]: Well, I am not an expert, but speaking as if I had a lawyer's qualification discussed in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee...

[Kim Tae-hyun]: You've served on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee longer than anyone, haven't you?

[Park Jie-won]: That is why, as I say repeatedly, we must not go back from a reformed Lee Jae-myung prosecution to a political prosecution under Yoon Suk-yeol. And if the Prosecution Office and the Investigation Office are established, all of those paths can be pursued. Furthermore, the police currently hold the authority to initiate and conduct investigations, don't they? Therefore, since arrest warrants, search and seizure warrants, and all other warrants can be handled by the prosecution, which holds the indictment power, I believe this is neither unconstitutional nor problematic. However, since the public is concerned, and all media and Minbyun are pointing it out, and we also have several lawmakers within our party—like Representative Lee So-young, Representative Kim Nam-hee on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and Representative Hong Kee-won who have proposed bills—we should deliberate on it.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.

[Park Jie-won]: But my stance is complete abolition.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Because the President was actually worried that victim protection might be weakened, and Minister of Justice Jung Sung-ho also expressed similar concerns.

[Park Jie-won]: Our host Kim Tae-hyun is also a lawyer, so you keep asking because you oppose abolishing supplementary investigative powers, but I'm telling you, the matter is already settled.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: But they are discussing alternatives for victim protection.

[Park Jie-won]: If there are alternatives, they should be discussed in the National Assembly. Even the President told us to deliberate carefully.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Former Representative Choe Kang-wook, who is a legal professional, suggested, "The prosecutor can just inform the media." Representative Kim Yong-min said, "We are discussing a system where victims can state their opinions at any time and request meetings."

[Park Jie-won]: Exactly.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: There are concerns about whether this would be enough.

[Park Jie-won]: Aren't those also just their personal opinions? Even our Legislation and Judiciary Committee member Kim Yong-min is saying that. The stance is that we will deliberate on these matters.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: So you are saying there will be more discussion on this part?

[Park Jie-won]: Yes. Under the current circumstances, discussion is inevitable.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: In any case, it is complete abolition, and do you believe the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act must be passed before this national convention?

[Park Jie-won]: Of course.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: The President told us to deliberate slowly, but isn't this too fast?

[Park Jie-won]: The President also declared complete abolition through the Prime Minister and told the National Assembly to handle it.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: The opposition party is telling the President to exercise his veto power.

[Park Jie-won]: Did they do it themselves?

[Kim Tae-hyun]: I see. Let's talk about the national convention. Regarding the preferential voting system...

[Park Jie-won]: The preferential voting system must be implemented. When I ran for National Assembly Speaker...

[Kim Tae-hyun]: It was in place back then, yes.

[Park Jie-won]: Of course, it doesn't look good for someone who lost to talk about it, but despite receiving overwhelming support from party members and the public, I lost to someone who actually got 3% or 5%. Back then, the preferential voting system was in place, and because there were only two candidates for floor leader at the time, there was no preferential voting for that. It cannot be that it was right back then but wrong now. You cannot apply it to others but refuse to apply it to yourself. We must use preferential voting.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Well, the so-called pro-Chung faction, those close to former Representative Jung Chung-rae, are currently opposing this. It seems they believe that electing via preferential voting would disadvantage Jung. Is that actually the case?

[Park Jie-won]: Exactly. For someone who served as party leader to apply it to others but refuse to apply it to themselves based on the advantages or disadvantages for Supreme Council members—that is Jung Chung-rae's style of double standards ("naeronambul"). It must be done.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: So, regardless of advantage or disadvantage, since it was applied to the National Assembly Speaker election during his leadership, it should be done this time too?

[Park Jie-won]: Yes, do it. Of course.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: In any case, the reason the pro-Chung faction opposes it is because they judge it to be disadvantageous to them, right?

[Park Jie-won]: I don't know. I don't know about that. But if they had such concerns, they should have amended it beforehand, even if it was done in the past. They shouldn't say "this won't work" now when candidate registration is just around the corner, without having made any amendments.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: But why can't they reach a conclusion on this? I heard they couldn't reach a conclusion even in yesterday's closed-door Supreme Council meeting. Candidate registration is coming up soon, so the rules need to be set before that, right?

[Park Jie-won]: That's probably because the pro-Chung Supreme Council members are in the majority, so they couldn't reach a decision. But in my view, that is not right. It is truly Jung Chung-rae's style of double standards. This is wrong. That's why he is getting ganged up on.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Really? I see. "Getting ganged up on" ("daguri") is an expression former Representative Jung Chung-rae used yesterday.

[Park Jie-won]: We used to use that word a lot when we were young.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Do you think the current situation is actually turning unfavorable for former Representative Jung Chung-rae? To the point where he himself describes it as "getting ganged up on." Because former Representative Song Young-gil and former Secretary-General Kim Min-seok are critical, Representative Ko Min-jung also seems somewhat critical, and Gangjin County Council Chair Kim Bo-mi is also very critical.

[Park Jie-won]: Our Chair Kim Bo-mi is a woman...

[Kim Tae-hyun]: She is in your constituency, right?

[Park Jie-won]: Right next to it.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Ah, the neighboring constituency. Gangjin.

[Park Jie-won]: I know her well. She is a woman and served as the youngest chair of the Gangjin County Council.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: She spoke without hesitation yesterday.

[Park Jie-won]: She wrote a statement—or was it a press release?—and she wrote it very well.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes, she was very outspoken yesterday too.

[Park Jie-won]: Isn't it a good thing that such people are stepping up and speaking out?

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yesterday, former Representative Jung Chung-rae said directly to former Secretary-General Kim Min-seok, "Leaving the party during an election, helping another party's candidate, and running as an independent is the worst kind of self-serving politics. I have never engaged in self-serving politics." It seems he was referring to the past Hudan-hyeop (Committee for Unifying Presidential Candidates) incident. These stories are still being brought up.

[Park Jie-won]: Well, Candidate Kim Min-seok is currently leading overwhelmingly.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: In terms of the race?

[Park Jie-won]: And I think Candidate Kim is aiming for the presidency and has that in mind. Even the rumor about him sleeping in and not showing up on December 3 was cleared up very cleanly on Kim Eo-jun's News Factory. That's why there are also suspicions regarding the Hudan-hyeop issue.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.

[Park Jie-won]: That's why taking a hit now and clearing his name before moving forward is actually a very good political strategy. Once he explains this issue clearly, it will be over.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: But the one raising the issue is former Representative Jung Chung-rae, and Jung...

[Park Jie-won]: Representative Jung Chung-rae also said he wouldn't engage in negative campaigning, but he is doing it the most right now. Why? Because he is getting ganged up on, so he is defending himself. Regardless of the excuse, the party members and the public will judge him for engaging in negative campaigning. And it is a fact that Hudan-hyeop existed. Regarding Hudan-hyeop as I know it, I was at the Blue House at the time. I personally stepped forward, under the instructions of President Kim Dae-jung, to tell him absolutely not to leave the party. It is true that Candidate Kim Min-seok supported Candidate Chung Mong-joon at the time to prevent the other side from taking power, out of a desire to achieve a transfer of power.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.

[Park Jie-won]: If so, it would be better for him to announce that he had such loyal intentions. Why stay quiet and take the hit?

[Kim Tae-hyun]: So you are saying he should explain and push through this, just as he overcame the controversy regarding his actions on the day of the martial law?

[Park Jie-won]: Yes. He is going to take hits anyway. Regarding this issue, since it has come out early while he enjoys overwhelming support, there is no reason why Candidate Kim Min-seok cannot become the party leader because of this. Since our Democratic Party lawmakers and the public support him, believing that Kim is the one to make Lee Jae-myung's presidency successful despite knowing this, he should just take the hit cleanly and explain it. Look how well the December 3 issue was resolved.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: I see. Speaking of December 3, Kim Eo-jun said he obtained it with great difficulty and released the National Assembly CCTV footage from the day of the martial law, which put the controversy to rest. How do you think he obtained it? People's Power Party says this needs to be investigated.

[Park Jie-won]: I have heard some things, but does the media ever reveal its sources for what it reports?

[Kim Tae-hyun]: No, they don't.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Then, according to what you've heard, it wasn't obtained illegally, right?

[Park Jie-won]: It's not like that.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: So it was obtained legally, but it's difficult to disclose how.

[Park Jie-won]: Yes. In any case, the media reported it because it had news value. Especially when people from both sides attacked, claiming that "Factory Manager Kim Eo-jun" was taking former Representative Jung Chung-rae's side, I told them not to look at it that way, saying, "Isn't he on our side?" And if they are part of the same progressive camp, they are close even if they have differences. So I said let's not criticize him, and my words turned out to be exactly right.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: I was just curious why Kim Eo-jun of all people chose to release this on his show.

[Park Jie-won]: He obtained it, so he released it as a journalist. What is there to question?

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Are you saying he cleared the suspicions around former Secretary-General Kim Min-seok for the sake of the entire political camp?

[Park Jie-won]: In any case, it was reported because it had news value. If SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show obtained something like that, wouldn't you report it regardless of who it helps or hurts? Isn't that what journalism is?

[Kim Tae-hyun]: I see. Representative, let's look at this story. Regarding Representative Cho Kuk, who recently posted about the frequent use of the Ilbe-style suffix "-no." I think you previously expressed that he did so because he was lonely. After being quiet, he posted again. He released a statement after a week.

[Park Jie-won]: People say he posted about 30 times within a week or so. Please, if former Representative Cho Kuk keeps doing that, he will only drift further away.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Drift further away from what? From public sentiment?

[Park Jie-won]: From the public. That is why, since former Representative Cho Kuk failed, it would be better for him to reflect on himself, stay quiet for a while, and then make a challenge later. If he keeps doing things like this, public opinion will only worsen. Former Representative Cho Kuk is really close to me and is a very smart person, so I don't know why he is doing this. He is acting foolishly.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: According to a Chosun Ilbo report, some within his party suggested that Cho go abroad for a while, but he refused. Would that also be a viable option?

[Park Jie-won]: A few lawmakers from the Rebuilding Korea Party told me the same thing.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Really?

[Park Jie-won]: They said they suggested he go abroad for a short while, but he wouldn't listen. If he remains that stubborn, there is no future for him.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: So you are saying it is right for him to step back quietly?

[Park Jie-won]: Yes. One must avoid a sudden downpour.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Why doesn't he listen to such advice? It must all be for his own good. Your words are also spoken out of genuine concern for former Representative Cho, aren't they?

[Park Jie-won]: Of course. Who cares about Cho Kuk as much as I do? I even got disciplined by the Jung Chung-rae leadership in the Democratic Party for helping Cho Kuk. But from the leadership's perspective, they disciplined me because they felt my words harmed the Democratic Party. That's fine, and I accepted the discipline. Everyone faces difficult times in life and politics. When that happens, one must endure it and turn misfortune into a blessing. If you just kick and punch because you are angry, you will only hurt your own hands and feet. He shouldn't do it. Please, stop doing it.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: I see. This is the last issue, we have about 50 seconds left. Representative Ahn Cheol-soo held a press conference yesterday and told former Representative Han Dong-hoon not to rejoin the party.

[Park Jie-won]: He told him not to even show his face, right?

[Kim Tae-hyun]: You know Representative Ahn well.

[Park Jie-won]: He did well.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: He did well?

[Park Jie-won]: Representative Ahn Cheol-soo made a good point for the first time.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Why is that?

[Park Jie-won]: I have said this several times, but for former Representative Han Dong-hoon, as Jang Dong-hyeok says, it is a criminal case regarding the party's online bulletin board. There is no way out.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.

[Park Jie-won]: And there is no future if he goes along with those people. That's why I have been saying for a long time that he should create a new conservative force and found a new party. Then he should be judged fairly. What is the point of going along with the "Yoon-again" forces? It is better for him not to even show his face.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: So founding a new party is the right path?

[Park Jie-won]: That's how I see it. I advise him not to even show his face.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: I see. Let's wrap up here. That was Representative Park Jie-won. Thank you.

[Park Jie-won]: Thank you.

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