Kim Young-jin "United Party Walkout from Plenary Session... A Custom That Must Disappear"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kang Nahum and Im Chunhan] Kim Youngjin, the Chief Whip of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the United Future Party for leaving immediately after entering the first plenary session of the 21st National Assembly on the 5th, saying it was "an exit following a custom that should disappear in the 21st National Assembly." On the same day, Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Future Party, made a procedural statement saying, "If the ruling party unilaterally processes matters just because they have more seats, there is no reason for the National Assembly to exist," and then led United Future Party members out of the plenary session.

During the plenary session, Chief Whip Kim stated in a procedural speech, "The 21st National Assembly must be a turning point for political innovation that clears out wrong practices."

He continued, "If one-quarter of the total members of the National Assembly request, a plenary session can be convened. Today's plenary session is about upholding the Constitution, which is a higher law than the National Assembly Act," rebutting the United Future Party's argument that the convening of the plenary session is not a mandatory provision but a hortatory clause.

Chief Whip Kim said, "The idea that the National Assembly cannot convene without the agreement of the floor leaders of negotiation groups is unconstitutional," and explained, "According to the National Assembly Act, the first plenary session date is set as the seventh day from the start of the term, so today's plenary session is in accordance with that." He then criticized, "Floor Leader Joo Ho-young's remarks clearly show that past customs violate the Constitution and the National Assembly Act."

Chief Whip Kim added, "Just as the world has changed before and after post-Corona, the National Assembly must also change before and after the 21st National Assembly," and said, "The 21st National Assembly must engage in genuine cooperation to protect public health and the national economy."

He concluded by appealing, "I urge cooperation to create a K-National Assembly admired worldwide through competition in work and policy."

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