"Let's Give Up on the Legislation Committee and Focus on Substance"... 'Abandonment Theory' Also Within the United Future Party

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the United Future Party raises its voice to defend the Legislation and Judiciary Committee against the ruling party's claim of "taking even the Legislation and Judiciary Committee," a faction within the party is expressing a pragmatic view of "rather giving up the Legislation and Judiciary Committee."

On the 14th, United Future Party lawmaker Jang Je-won stated on Facebook, "We did our best. We did everything except for protests outside and sit-ins." He added, "The first-term lawmakers visited the Speaker's office in protest, and senior lawmakers showed determination to give up the positions of Deputy Speaker and all standing committee chairmanships, which everyone desires. The floor leader also negotiated to the maximum extent possible amid a heavily tilted power imbalance," but "in the end, the Democratic Party, relying on its strength, will win."

Jang said, "We cannot just vent our frustration. We must make the smartest and most practical choice," adding, "Even if we lose the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, if we can take the lead in areas such as Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Political Affairs, Agriculture, Forestry, Oceans and Fisheries, Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups, Labor, Budget, and Education, at least a minimal check on issues directly affecting the lives of the people can be established."

While the United Future Party officially maintains that it cannot give up the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, this is the second time voices calling for "giving up the Legislation and Judiciary Committee" have emerged. Earlier, on the 9th, United Future Party lawmaker Park Soo-young told reporters after a first-term lawmakers' meeting, "Even if we lose the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, there are many voices saying we should fight through policies and bills," reflecting the mood among first-term lawmakers. However, on the 14th, Park expressed on Facebook that "the proposal suggested by lawmaker Jang to receive the Industry Committee instead of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee and give up the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is not appropriate," and stated, "As resolved by the third-term lawmakers, if we do not get the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, it would be better not to receive any standing committee."

On the other hand, lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun emphasized on Facebook that "we must not sell out the opposition party's value in exchange for a few crumbs of standing committee chairmanships," stressing that the Legislation and Judiciary Committee must not be given up. He said, "Now, beyond personal ambition and party interests, it is a priority to uphold the principles of parliamentary democracy," and added, "The Democratic Party is pushing through with power until the end, and the United Future Party endures humiliation and does its best; the people will evaluate the United Future Party more."

As the ruling and opposition parties continue their extreme standoff over negotiations on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and other standing committees, various opinions are also emerging within the United Future Party. Meanwhile, on the same day, 53 first-term lawmakers from the pro-government camp pressured the United Future Party, saying, "The United Future Party's insistence on holding the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is an act of refusing to accept the general election results."

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