National Assembly Opening D-1... "Even if my heart is torn apart, I will open" vs "Intimidating Negotiation Attitude" Tense Standoff

Conflict Escalates as Ruling and Opposition Parties Fail to Narrow Differences... Final Attempt at Agreement in Tonight's Meeting
Ahn Cheol-soo: "Give Judiciary Committee to Opposition, Agree to Open Assembly on the 5th"

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin, Lim Chunhan, Jeon Jinyoung] The opening of the 21st National Assembly, as announced by the Democratic Party of Korea, is just one day away. The ruling and opposition parties continued their tense standoff on the 4th without narrowing their differences. While the Democratic Party firmly stated its intention to open the National Assembly even unilaterally, the United Future Party strongly opposed this, calling it an act that breaks the spirit of agreement.

Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the policy coordination meeting held that morning, "Even if the sky splits in two, we will definitely hold the (first) plenary session of the 21st National Assembly tomorrow." He called the plenary session tomorrow "the first step toward a working National Assembly" and demanded the unconditional attendance of the United Future Party. Regarding the tradition of opening the National Assembly through bipartisan agreement, Kim said, "The National Assembly has been at a standstill for a long time due to this tradition, and laws have been ignored in the name of cooperation. The opposition still treats the past wrong traditions like a sacred relic, but the people are ordering us to abolish them."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, sharpened his tone, saying, "The ruling party is showing a negotiation attitude close to intimidation." He pointed out, "The National Assembly Act stipulates that the Speaker must be elected by the 5th, but this is a guideline. Nevertheless, the ruling party pressured the Secretariat to interpret it as a mandatory rule." He warned, "If the Speaker and standing committee chairs are unilaterally elected tomorrow, it will be the first day the Democratic Party is abandoned by the people," and urged, "Do not waste this good opportunity for win-win cooperation that the people demand."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the two floor leaders continued negotiations through meetings on the evening of the 29th of last month and the 2nd of this month but failed to narrow their differences. The main issue is the organization of the National Assembly, especially the position of the Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The ruling party demands the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, saying it can no longer tolerate the opposition's obstruction. The opposition, on the other hand, opposes giving both the Speaker and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship to the ruling party, saying it would break parliamentary democracy. The uncompromising fight between the two sides has prolonged the dispute, leading to controversy over the opening on the 5th.

If the Democratic Party opens the 21st National Assembly on the 5th as planned, it will be the first unilateral opening in over 50 years since 1967. While the Democratic Party has left room for negotiation regarding the distribution of standing committee chairs, it has stated that if the United Future Party does not change its stance on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship, the standing committee chairs can also be put to a vote according to the National Assembly Act.

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, urged the ruling party to accept the past practice of distributing standing committee chairs and open the National Assembly on the 5th through bipartisan agreement. At the Supreme Council meeting that day, he said, "The ruling party should promise to give the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair to the opposition and elect the Speaker and deputy speakers on the 5th. If the ruling party unilaterally proceeds with the opening, it will be recorded as the worst event in the history of the National Assembly." He added, "If the Assembly opens but fails to elect the Speaker or standing committee chairs, it will be a ghost Assembly. The principle of parliamentary democracy is dialogue and compromise, and a 'working National Assembly' cannot be realized by unilateral coercion."

Kim Tae-nyeon and Joo Ho-young are scheduled to hold a meeting that evening to attempt a last-minute agreement.

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