Stubborn Ju Ho-young "No Intention to Return... Has the R Party Changed?"

Taking Responsibility for Assembly Formation and Resigning... Staying in Honam
"Even if We Join the Standing Committee..." Urging Change in Democratic Party's Negotiation Stance
"People Who Suggested a Declaration of the End of War Just Before North Korea's Provocation" Criticizing Security Awareness

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the Future United Party, who has been in seclusion after expressing his intention to resign taking responsibility for the ruling party's unilateral organization of the National Assembly, said on the 18th, "Nothing has changed. I have no intention of returning to the National Assembly," maintaining his previous stance.

In a phone interview with Yonhap News Agency on the same day, Floor Leader Joo conveyed that he cannot return to the National Assembly unless there is a change in the Democratic Party's negotiation attitude.

After the Democratic Party unilaterally elected the chairpersons of standing committees, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, on the 15th, Joo expressed his intention to resign and disappeared from the National Assembly. It is reported that he is currently staying at a temple in Honam.

Breaking his silence after four days of seclusion, Floor Leader Joo's position remained firm. Regarding the suggestion within his party and the ruling party to first organize security-related standing committees, he said, "What matters is not whether the Intelligence Committee or the Defense Committee is formed, but how seriously the discussions are held," and questioned, "Even if the Intelligence Committee is opened, can they publicly report on military readiness?"

When asked if bipartisan cooperation is necessary given the severe security situation on the Korean Peninsula due to North Korea's provocations, he acknowledged, "That is true," but firmly responded, "Didn't they say they could do it without us? They said we always hold them back, so wouldn't they do better without us?"

Seong Il-jong, an emergency committee member who is persuading Floor Leader Joo to return to the National Assembly at the request of Kim Jong-in, chairman of the Future United Party's Emergency Committee, criticized, "After talking with him, he really seemed hurt. The Democratic Party treated him like a subcontractor, saying take it or leave it, showing a power trip."

Seong said, "I think he felt it was not a negotiation but humiliation. The wound he received is very deep," and added, "The Speaker of the National Assembly forcibly assigned committee positions again. It is common sense that the right to assign belongs to the head of the floor negotiation group, but the floor leader suffered a humiliation that has never happened in 72 years of history." He continued, "Now, saying the North Korean situation is severe and the supplementary budget is urgent and telling him to come back is like cutting off arms and legs and asking to run a 100-meter dash," conveying that "he seems very hurt."

Regarding Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party, urging a return to the National Assembly by saying, "The Democratic Party, which was the opposition during the Yeonpyeong Island shelling, also stopped outside protests and returned to the National Assembly," Seong retorted, "Then since they gave the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to the opposition in the past, they should give it this time as well."

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