Floor leader Han Byeong-do pledges to form a special committee on agricultural policy amid concerns over CPTPP membership

In response to the concerns of the agricultural, livestock and fisheries industry over joining the CPTPP, “We will form a special committee on agricultural policy and listen to the difficulties faced by farmers.”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Nam-kwon and Choi Joo-seong = Han Byeong-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 1st, a day before the launch of the Serious Crimes Investigation Office and Public Prosecution Office, "We will do our best to ensure that the new criminal justice system is properly established."

At a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on this day, floor leader Han said, “A new history in the criminal justice system of the Republic of Korea begins.”

He emphasized, “What is more important than anything is strengthening the investigative power and protecting the rights of the people,” and added, “We will strengthen cooperation between the police, the Central Investigation Agency, and the Public Officials’ Corruption Investigation Office (High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Office) and coordinate differences between agencies through the investigative authority coordination council.”

He went on to explain, “The disappearance of the prosecution’s investigative authority does not mean that the state’s investigative function disappears,” and that “the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s request for supplementary investigation and investigative agencies’ request for supplementary investigation will continue.”

At the same time, he said, “The People Power Party was anxious because it could not sprinkle ashes from the beginning, saying it was destroying the criminal justice system,” and urged, “Please stop false instigation that equates the power of the prosecution with the safety of the people and creates anxiety.”

In response to concerns that the agricultural, livestock and fisheries industries would be harmed if the government joins the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which is being promoted by the government, floor leader Han said, "I will push for the formation of a special committee on agricultural administration and I, as the floor leader, will personally serve as the chairman and listen to the difficulties faced by farmers."

He added, “The People Power Party is inciting anxiety among farmers by calling it an opening without measures as if they were waiting for it,” adding, “The government will never unilaterally push for membership until it fully listens to the voices of farmers and comes up with reasonable measures.”