Founded on March 3, 2024, the Choguk Innovation Party secured 12 seats in the 22nd general election, quickly rising to become the third-largest party in the National Assembly. Party leader Choguk and other proportional representation winners have garnered significant public support with core pledges focusing on prosecutorial reform, expansion of social rights, and the restoration of democracy. Their promised 'first bill' pledges will be a crucial indicator of the party's future trajectory. Today (May 18, 2025), we will analyze the key first bill pledges of the Choguk Innovation Party's proportional representation winners, examining their feasibility and political significance.
The Choguk Innovation Party was founded by former Minister of Justice Choguk. Its founding stemmed from a backlash against the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's retreat from prosecutorial reform and political retaliation, and the need for a new focal point within the democratic progressive camp. At the time of its founding, Choguk declared that "three years is too long," advocating for the early end of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Key pledges include prosecutorial reform, expansion of social rights, and the establishment of the 7th Republic, foreshadowing strong opposition to the government. The Choguk Innovation Party is particularly focused on pledges related to prosecutorial reform, such as transferring the Board of Audit and Inspection to the National Assembly and dismantling the prosecutor's monopoly on power. This focus likely stems from Choguk's personal experience with prosecutorial investigations. In the 22nd general election, the Choguk Innovation Party ran only proportional representation candidates, achieving a high approval rating of 24.25%. This result demonstrates strong support from voters who desire prosecutorial reform.
The Choguk Innovation Party's proportional representation winners have proposed various first bill pledges based on their respective expertise and experience.
The Choguk Innovation Party's first official bill is the 'Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor's Act.' This bill proposes establishing a special prosecutor to investigate allegations against former Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, including allegations of instigating lawsuits and child admissions irregularities. Choguk strongly asserted his determination, stating, "We will uncover every detail of the misdeeds of former Minister Han Dong-hoon, a symbol of prosecutorial dictatorship." However, the People Power Party is opposing the bill as a "political attack," suggesting a difficult path to passage.
Eui-min Lee, an elected member, is preparing an amendment to the Public Information Disclosure Act as her first bill. This amendment aims to improve the way public information is disclosed so that AI can recognize and utilize it. It is expected to contribute to resolving the issue of 'favoritism towards former judges and prosecutors' by enabling AI to learn from court rulings. Lee emphasized the necessity of amending the law, stating, "While it may seem that information is well-disclosed in Korea, the reality is that machines or AI cannot recognize the disclosed information."
The Choguk Innovation Party has pledged to build an advanced social rights country. They are expected to actively pursue legislation related to social rights, including the rights to housing, childcare, education, and health. While the specific details are yet to be finalized, discussions are expected to focus on strengthening the basic rights of socially vulnerable groups. Choguk stressed, "It is the duty of the state to guarantee citizens' right to enjoy the minimum conditions necessary to live a dignified life."
The Choguk Innovation Party's first bill pledges receive varied assessments in terms of feasibility and political significance. The 'Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor's Act' is unlikely to pass due to opposition from the ruling party. However, this bill allows the Choguk Innovation Party to strongly express its commitment to prosecutorial reform and consolidate its support base. The amendment to the Public Information Disclosure Act is considered relatively feasible. It aligns with the current trends of AI technology development and increased information disclosure and is unlikely to face significant inter-party disagreements. However, further discussions may be necessary regarding the specifics of the bill and the scope of information disclosure. Legislation for an advanced social rights country requires social consensus and financial support. Therefore, it is crucial to incorporate the opinions of various stakeholders and establish a concrete implementation plan. The Choguk Innovation Party can contribute to reducing social inequality and improving citizens' quality of life through these bills.
The Choguk Innovation Party is positioning itself as the vanguard for prosecutorial reform in the 22nd National Assembly. However, as a minority party with only 12 seats, its limitations are clear. Therefore, the Choguk Innovation Party must strengthen cooperation with other opposition parties and build alliances with civil society to secure the momentum for policy implementation. They should also discover various bills related to people's livelihoods and present policies that provide practical help to citizens' lives. If the Choguk Innovation Party maintains its commitment to prosecutorial reform and the expansion of social rights, it can positively influence Korean politics. However, it must avoid being mired in populist rhetoric or prioritizing the interests of the party leader, lest it alienate its support base.
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