The plenary session is likely to open soon... The Liberty Korea Party boycotts over 'Chu Mi-ae's opposition'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Jeon Jinyoung] The plenary session for the passage of livelihood bills is imminent on the 9th.

Although the Liberty Korea Party opposed the high-ranking prosecutor personnel reshuffle carried out by Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae the day before, raising the possibility of a deadlock, the Democratic Party of Korea decided to proceed with the plenary session. As of 6:30 PM, Democratic Party members are present in the plenary hall, encouraging participation from other minor party members.

The Liberty Korea Party declared they would not attend. After the party meeting, floor leader Shim Jae-cheol told reporters, "They say they will let us into the plenary session, but they are unilaterally holding it regardless of our will," sharply criticizing the move.

That day’s plenary session was scheduled based on an agreement between the Democratic Party and the Liberty Korea Party to handle only livelihood bills.

Until that morning, the Liberty Korea Party intended to attend the plenary session on the condition that the Democratic Party would not table the fast-track (quick processing agenda) bill on the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police. Policy Committee Chair Kim Jae-won told reporters, "We proposed not to table the investigative authority adjustment bill today and to meet again tomorrow for negotiations," adding, "The plenary session will go well." The Democratic Party had also accepted this condition and planned to table the bill around the 10th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, the atmosphere changed after the party meeting at 2 PM. The Liberty Korea Party members fiercely opposed Minister Choo’s personnel decision, which abruptly replaced the leadership investigating the Blue House allegations. During the closed party meeting, members took turns voicing criticism. One member said during the meeting, "More members are outraged by Minister Choo’s personnel abuse than by the plenary session itself," and "There are more opinions against holding the plenary session."

As internal opposition grew strong, the Liberty Korea Party requested the Democratic Party to postpone the plenary session and later demanded a current affairs inquiry into Minister Choo at tomorrow’s plenary session, but the Democratic Party rejected this.

Democratic Party floor spokesperson Park Chan-dae told reporters after the meeting, "We judge that the Liberty Korea Party has no intention of attending today’s plenary session and is unlikely to fulfill their promise to pass livelihood bills," adding, "We believe we must do our utmost to pass the livelihood bills."

With the situation rapidly changing, the Democratic Party reversed its initial decision not to table the investigative authority adjustment bill and decided to table it for now. Floor Deputy Leader Lee Won-wook told reporters, "However, we will not proceed to a vote and plan to negotiate further with the Liberty Korea Party."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.