Amid a Dilemma, Kim Jong-in Mentions 'Change'... "Joo Ho-young Will Return" (Summary)

Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, is taking off his mask just before delivering opening remarks at the Emergency Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] As Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the Future United Party, tendered his resignation in protest against Speaker Park Byeong-seok's forced assignment of standing committees, a leadership vacuum is expected to continue within the United United Party for the time being. On the 16th, United Party lawmakers visited the Speaker's office to protest the forced assignment but failed to find a clear breakthrough. The United Party Emergency Response Committee (ERC) held an emergency meeting that day to find a response plan.

That morning, the United Party held an emergency ERC meeting at the National Assembly main building to discuss countermeasures following Floor Leader Joo's resignation. Convened by ERC Chairman Kim Jong-in, the meeting included discussions on future responses to the leadership vacuum and strong criticism of the ruling Democratic Party's unilateral formation of committees.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Kim warned, "The ruling party itself needs to carefully consider when the committees will be formed," cautioning that if they form the committees unilaterally, all responsibility will fall on the ruling party. He also criticized the forced standing committee assignments, saying, "An unprecedented situation in parliamentary history occurred yesterday." ERC member Sung Il-jong said, "The path to dictatorship has been opened," and ERC member Kim Mi-ae raised her voice, saying, "June 15 will be remembered as the day parliamentary dictatorship began."

Instead of discussing the election of a successor floor leader, the ERC decided that Member Sung would visit Floor Leader Joo to persuade him to return. When asked by reporters about plans to elect a new floor leader, Chairman Kim said, "There are no such plans," adding, "(Floor Leader Joo) will naturally return."

Chairman Kim reportedly reiterated the need to transform into a 'policy-oriented party' during the meeting. According to spokesperson Kim Eun-hye, Chairman Kim said, "At this dead end, let us once again reflect on what kind of party the United Party aspires to be. We must start anew with a thorough recognition of the defeat in the metropolitan area elections," adding, "Without efforts to adapt to changing times and circumstances, we cannot gain vitality. We must become a policy party that walks with the underprivileged."

He also said, "The public's anxiety and frustration about the future are great. Let us break through this barrier to give hope to the people and win their hearts," and added, "You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist. (The ruling party) should open their hands and come to the dialogue table."

Before the ERC meeting that day, United Party lawmakers also visited the Speaker's office to protest the forced assignments. Kim Seong-won, United Party deputy floor leader, told reporters after the protest visit, "We strongly protested to the Speaker and the Democratic Party for the unprecedented parliamentary violence in constitutional history and demanded the immediate cancellation and withdrawal of the forcibly assigned standing committee members," emphasizing, "We cannot carry out National Assembly activities in the forcibly assigned committees." The United Party Staff Association also issued a statement that day, saying, "Even taking away the Judiciary Committee chairmanship, the minimum check-and-balance device, means no tolerance for criticism and oversight," and protested, "We hope the Speaker reads the hearts of the people, not the president."

The United Party's full-scale protest that day was triggered by the National Assembly's forced election of six standing committee chairpersons at a plenary session held without the participation of the United Party and the People's Party. This was the first time in 53 years that standing committees were assigned without the participation of the main opposition party. The ruling and opposition parties failed to narrow their differences over the Judiciary Committee chairmanship. The list of members for the six standing committees was forcibly assigned by Speaker Park. Floor Leader Joo took responsibility for this and expressed his intention to resign immediately after the plenary session.

With Floor Leader Joo's resignation, the scheduled floor strategy meeting was canceled, and the ERC is expected to continue discussing future countermeasures. However, the problem is that the Democratic Party, with its numerical advantage of 177 seats, is pushing forward without any concessions, leaving no sharp countermeasures. Within the party, voices from pragmatists suggest "giving up the Judiciary Committee chairmanship to gain practical benefits." Lawmaker Jang Je-won wrote on Facebook, "The majority of the public will not share our anger over which party holds the Judiciary Committee," and argued, "Even if we lose the Judiciary Committee, let's take the lead in areas such as Land, Political Affairs, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups, Labor, Budget, and Education."

However, the majority of lawmakers support a 'hardline stance.' United Party ERC member Sung Il-jong appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and said, "There were a few opinions advocating pragmatism, about one or two members, and of course, such proposals should be considered," but emphasized, "However, the majority of lawmakers who make strategic judgments almost unanimously agreed that the Judiciary Committee is essential to uphold democratic principles."

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