Kim Jong-in: "The ruling party should carefully consider the timing of the assembly formation... All responsibility lies with the ruling party"

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, is attending the Emergency Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, warned that "the ruling party itself needs to carefully consider when the parliamentary steering committee will be formed," and that if the committee is formed unilaterally, all responsibility will fall on the ruling party.

Chairman Kim said at an emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly main building on the 16th, "Yesterday, an unprecedented situation in the history of the legislature occurred."

He pointed out, "In a democratic society, the legislature functions through mutual respect between the ruling and opposition parties," adding, "This 21st National Assembly opened unilaterally by ignoring the opposition's intentions from the start, and the selection of standing committee chairs was done in a bizarre way never experienced before."

Chairman Kim questioned, "Can the legislature function solely by the power of the majority?" He also referred to the 1979 expulsion of Kim Young-sam, then chairman of the New Democratic Party. He said, "(Regarding the expulsion) everyone probably recognizes the political consequences it caused," expressing concern, "In this urgent situation where we must respond to COVID-19 and North Korean threats, can we deliver agreed-upon intentions when the National Assembly is being led into dysfunction?"

He continued, "How would other countries evaluate the reality of the democratic legislature called the Republic of Korea?" and added, "It is very regrettable that the basic principles of a democratic legislature have been forgotten, and the ruling party itself needs to carefully consider when the steering committee will be formed during the remaining time."

He warned, "Can the legislature swiftly resolve the issues we face in this manner?" and "All responsibility arising from this will inevitably fall on the ruling party."

Emergency Committee Member Sung Il-jong also said, "The path to dictatorship has been opened," pointing out, "According to Steven Levitsky's book 'How Democracies Die,' those who legally gain power through elections start destroying democracy by ignoring conventions." He added, "They even rejected the opposition's desperate demands for legislative functions," and said, "The opposition has no power. The people must watch this difficult situation closely and help. To prevent the Republic of Korea from heading toward dictatorship and to become a balanced country, the opposition must be properly supported."

Emergency Committee Member Kim Mi-ae said, "June 15 will be remembered as the day legislative dictatorship began," adding, "This applies not only to the United Future Party lawmakers but also to 41.4% of the people, and there was never any intention of coexistence and cooperation from the Democratic Party." Emergency Committee Member Jeong Won-seok said, "The Moon administration and the ruling party ultimately fulfilled their promised pledges. A 'country never before experienced' has begun," and added, "Although the United Future Party lacks power, we will strive to perform the functions of the main opposition party and fulfill our role toward the people."

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