Joo Ho-young: "The First Plenary Session is 'Illegal'... Street Protests as the Last Resort"

"If Standing Committee Chair Distribution Fails, No Submission of Assignment Table"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, is delivering opening remarks at the meeting between the Speaker of the National Assembly and floor leaders of negotiation groups held on the 8th in the Speaker's office of the National Assembly. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, criticized on the 9th regarding the negotiation for the formation of the National Assembly, saying, “The National Assembly Act is the procedural rule of the National Assembly. It is treated as a law that must be followed, but there are many advisory provisions in the National Assembly Act,” and added, “The Democratic Party of Korea government never followed it when they were the opposition.”

On the same day, on CBS Radio’s ‘Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show,’ Floor Leader Joo said, “(The Democratic Party) changed their stance, so it’s a case of double standards,” and added, “They are trying to put the frame that we are not following the law on us.”

Floor Leader Joo said, “It seems the negotiation will not go well,” and stated, “If the distribution of standing committee chairpersons is not decided as to which party will take which, we will not submit the allocation table.”

He pointed out, “First, we consider the first plenary session to elect the Speaker of the National Assembly illegal,” and added, “The regular and extraordinary sessions are not only advisory provisions, but also require a request for convening an extraordinary session and agreement on the plenary session date accordingly.”

He continued, “Speaker Park Byeong-seok is not neutral at all,” and said, “From the beginning, saying that he will act according to the law and make a decision means he is siding with the Democratic Party,” adding, “No previous speakers have ever urged and pressured so urgently like this.”

Regarding the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Floor Leader Joo said, “The Legislation and Judiciary Committee is a committee that prevents unilateral dominance and guards the gateway, and it has been the practice to give it to the opposition party, as former Democratic Party lawmaker Park Young-sun said,” and added, “Now saying that this is an outdated practice because of a change in stance is very wrong.”

On the possibility of protests outside the National Assembly, Floor Leader Joo said, “We will consider the situation before going that far,” and added, “I think giving up on the National Assembly is the last resort.”

Regarding the government’s push for the law banning North Korean leaflets, Floor Leader Joo criticized, saying, “It is an incident that severely undermined the pride of the Republic of Korea,” and added, “This administration has taken a servile stance, giving away everything, but has not advanced the situation at all.”

On basic income, Floor Leader Joo said, “It is highly desirable to start discussions,” and added, “Since it changes the national economic structure, there must be intense debate.” He also said, “If the basic income system is implemented, a tax increase theory inevitably follows,” and added, “Such matters must be discussed together and designed meticulously. If done hastily and incorrectly, it can only cause side effects.”

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