Democratic Party slams opposition's 'false propaganda' on criminal procedure law revision

Han Byung-do, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party, fiercely rebuked the opposition People Power Party on Tuesday for what he called "malicious rumors" and "false propaganda" regarding the recently revised criminal procedure law. The opposition party had claimed the changes, which include abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers and expanding grounds for case dismissal, were designed to benefit President Lee Jae-myung.

"The People Power Party is spreading malicious rumors by dragging the president into the issue of case dismissal," Han stated during a Supreme Council meeting. He asserted that this was a "clear distortion of facts" and a "baseless political attack" to connect a measure designed to protect citizens from unjust state power with the president's ongoing trial.

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The People Power Party is spreading malicious rumors by dragging the president into the issue of case dismissal. This is a clear distortion of facts. It is a baseless political attack to connect a measure designed to protect citizens from unjust state power with the president's trial.

The Democratic Party leader was responding to comments made by People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jin-seok, who had accused the ruling party and the presidential office of striking a "political side deal" to abolish supplementary investigation powers and expand case dismissal grounds. Jeong had vowed to file a constitutional complaint against the revision, calling it "highly unconstitutional."

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It is truly absurd to hold a protest meeting in front of the Blue House and threaten a constitutional complaint just as the president returns from an 11-day overseas trip.

Han criticized the opposition's timing, noting their threat of a constitutional complaint came just as the president returned from an 11-day overseas trip. He urged the People Power Party to cease using constitutional complaints as a tool for political warfare to overturn prosecutorial reform. Han emphasized that the Constitutional Court itself has ruled that prosecutors' direct investigation rights are not constitutionally guaranteed and that their allocation is a legislative matter for parliament.

He also dismissed the claim that extending full case referral to all crimes infringes on equality rights, questioning how reasonable protective measures for vulnerable victims could violate anyone's equality. Han announced plans for a public briefing to detail the revision's changes and protective measures for victims and the vulnerable, urging the People Power Party to listen and abandon their "baseless constitutional offensive."

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We will respond to political propaganda with truth, and counter baseless constitutional offensives with the constitution and precedents.