Sung Il-jong: "Joo Ho-young's Return Depends on the Ruling Party... Cooperation Will Come Only If the Ruling Party Changes"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Seong Il-jong, a member of the Future United Party's emergency committee, urged the ruling party to change, saying that Joo Ho-young, the United Party's floor leader, returning depends on the ruling party.

On the 22nd, Seong said on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "there is a possibility that Floor Leader Joo will return this week. It depends on the attitude of the ruling party."

Earlier, on the 21st, Floor Leader Joo expressed his intention to return in phone interviews with several media outlets, but it was closer to saying "there is a possibility of returning this week" rather than "I think I will return." It means he may not return if there is no change in the ruling party's attitude.

Seong pointed out, "What Floor Leader Joo is currently concerned about is the problem of parliamentary operation caused by the ruling party's arrogance and dogmatism," adding, "There is no consideration for the opposition party. Even subcontractors are not treated like this."

He emphasized, "How desperate must the leader of the main opposition party be to go into seclusion at a temple while contemplating the ruling party's unilateral dominance and arrogance," and said, "This issue is not about being a partner in state affairs or a subject of cooperation, but rather being treated worse than a subcontractor."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding Floor Leader Joo's remark to "take all 18 standing committees," Seong said, "This is a case where there is no consideration for the opposition party, and even the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which has been continuously given to the opposition party since the 17th National Assembly as a matter of cooperative consideration, is being taken away," adding, "The trigger was the ruling party declaring to the public, 'If the opposition doesn't take it, we will take it all,' so the opposition leader had said from the beginning, 'Then take it all.'"

There are also opinions urging the opposition party to return to the National Assembly due to the deterioration of inter-Korean relations. In response, Seong said, "It is true that some members of our party have expressed opinions that we should enter the standing committees in this situation, and Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in has already spoken about bipartisan cooperation," adding, "For such cooperation, the ruling party must quickly change its stance now."

Regarding the issue of removing "conservatism" from the party's platform, he explained, "Just because our party removes conservatism doesn't mean conservatism disappears. The true value of conservatism is leading the changing era, continuously improving problematic issues, reforming, and proactively leading the future," adding, "There is no need to interpret it too narrowly, so we will continue to maintain this value."

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