Jeong Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, spoke on the issue of supplementary investigation rights during a Supreme Council meeting on the 11th, stating that while the party has reached a decision, he urged the government to adequately consider the party’s position in its legislative proposal. This marked a change in tone, as he had previously emphasized the abolition of supplementary investigation rights despite President Lee Jae-myung's recent comments suggesting a reconsideration of the policy. By suggesting the government include the party's perspective, Jeong took a step back from the party’s hard stance, seeking collaboration with the government's legislative agenda.

The discussion arises amid ongoing conflicts over legislative strategies and party cohesion, particularly highlighted during Lee Jae-myung's New Year's press conference where he called for exceptional supplementary investigation rights. In contrast, the Democratic Party had decided on February 5 to eliminate supplementary investigation rights while proposing only the authority for supplementary investigation requests. This discrepancy has led to tensions within the government, with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok expressing dissatisfaction over the inclusion of supplementary investigation rights issues in the discussions regarding the Public Prosecutors and the Special Investigation Agency laws, creating further discomfort among party and government leaders, including Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik.

Jeong's softer position appears to be a tactical move to ease the strained relationship between the party and the presidential office following discussions about unification efforts. However, he maintains a firm stance on other legislative priorities, asserting that issues like the crime distortion law and the expansion of Supreme Court justices will be pursued without compromise. The Democratic Party intends to process these laws during the upcoming February extraordinary National Assembly session, signaling their commitment to advancing their legislative agenda despite the rift with the government.