National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang said Tuesday he will put the controversial prosecution reform bills to floor discussion on Dec. 3.

Moon’s decision comes as a compromise between the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, which have been divided over when the parliament should deliberate on the four bills fast-tracked in April amid fierce opposition from the Liberty Korea Party.

The Democratic Party said the parliament should begin discussing the bills immediately, while the Liberty Korea Party sets the date to late January next year. Their opposing views arise from how their different interpretation of the parliament law on fast-tracked bills.

The Democratic Party insists the bills are ready to be put to the floor because the Legislation and Judiciary Committee had already reviewed the bills, while the Liberty Korea Party argues that the committee needs more time to review the bills before they are put to the floor for discussion.

“Speaker Moon hopes that the ruling and opposing parties come to meet in the middle before December,” National Assembly Spokesman Han Min-soo said. “Once the bills go to floor discussion, the speaker intends to waste no time in getting the bills passed.”

Both the Democratic Party and Liberty Korea Party expressed frustration with the speaker. “I understand the speaker is seeking the middle ground, but his interpretation of the law is misguided,” said Rep. Lee In-young, floor leader of the Democratic Party.

Rep. Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party, said, “Dec. 3 is no good. It’s a total misinterpretation of the law.” In South Korea, bills are subject to a vote 60 days after they have been put to floor discussion.

The prosecution reform bills to be put to the floor include decentralizing the prosecution’s powers through establishing an independent anti-corruption agency to investigate allegations involving ranking officials, and realigning the authority of the prosecutors and police.

The Democratic Party and Liberty Korea Party have been at odds with each other because of the anti-graft body. Liberals contend the new body will keep the prosecution in check, but conservatives fear unchecked power of the new agency.

By Choi Si-young (siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com)