President Moon Receives 18 Rounds of Applause in Speech... United Future Party Jeers at Mention of Cooperation and CIO

A Man Throws Shoe at President Moon Jaein, Causes Disturbance

[Asia Economy, reporter Jeon Jinyoung] As this was the latest opening ceremony of the National Assembly in history, President Moon Jaein's opening address proceeded in a relatively calm atmosphere. However, when President Moon mentioned "cooperative politics" and the "Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO)," some lawmakers from the United Future Party jeered. After the speech, as President Moon was leaving the National Assembly building, an unexpected incident occurred when a man threw his shoe at him and caused a disturbance before being restrained.

President Moon Jaein is delivering a congratulatory opening speech at the inauguration ceremony of the 21st National Assembly held at the plenary session hall of the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo doso7@

On the 16th, President Moon visited the National Assembly and delivered his opening address for about 30 minutes, from 2:21 p.m. to 2:52 p.m. This opening ceremony was the latest in history, taking place 48 days after the start of the 21st National Assembly’s term. President Moon returned to the National Assembly for the first time in about nine months since his policy speech on October 22 of the previous year.

President Moon arrived at the main building of the National Assembly at 2:10 p.m. that day. He wore a navy suit and a tie with blue, red, and orange stripes-the symbolic colors of each party-on a navy background. On the left lapel of his jacket, he wore a "Thanks To You" badge produced by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

At 2:20 p.m., President Moon entered the main chamber wearing a mask. As he entered, all lawmakers stood and applauded for about one minute. Lawmakers from the United Future Party wore black masks and ribbons on their left chests that read "Condemning the Democratic Party's Abuse of Power, Collapse of Democracy" as they greeted President Moon.

President Moon walked to the center of the lawmakers' seats, greeted National Assembly Speaker Park Byeongseok, and began his speech at 2:21 p.m. Some Democratic Party lawmakers took out their smartphones to take pictures of the President delivering his speech. When President Moon said, "I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the 20th National Assembly for their efforts in responding to the COVID-19 crisis until the very end of their term," the first round of applause broke out, mainly among Democratic Party lawmakers. Some United Future Party lawmakers also joined in the applause.

However, when President Moon stated, "Cooperative politics is only possible when both hands come together," and "The 21st National Assembly must put an end to politics of confrontation and hostility and usher in a new era of cooperation," some United Future Party lawmakers jeered. There was also minor opposition when President Moon mentioned real estate issues, calling them "the most urgent legislative task." When he said, "With the passage of the CIO Act in the 20th National Assembly, we have taken another step toward reforming power institutions," some United Future Party lawmakers shouted "monopoly" from their seats.

President Moon Jaein attended the opening ceremony of the 21st National Assembly held at the plenary session hall of the National Assembly on the 16th. After delivering a congratulatory opening speech, he greeted Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo doso7@

At 2:52 p.m., when President Moon finished his speech, all Democratic Party lawmakers stood and applauded. President Moon exited toward the United Future Party lawmakers and greeted floor leader Joo Ho-young and others. He then moved to the Democratic Party seats to greet lawmakers such as Lee Nakyon and shook hands with Justice Party leader Sim Sangjung. During the opening speech, applause broke out 18 times, mainly from Democratic Party lawmakers. Including the entrance and exit, there were a total of 20 rounds of applause. Some Justice Party lawmakers applauded, while United Future Party lawmakers did not.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After the speech, President Moon moved to the Speaker's office in the main building and held a meeting with the National Assembly leadership, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, and the leaders and floor leaders of the Democratic Party, United Future Party, and Justice Party leader Sim Sangjung. He left the main building at 3:19 p.m. At that moment, a middle-aged man with gray hair took off his shoe and threw it at President Moon from the ramp of the main building. The shoe landed near where President Moon was standing, and security personnel immediately intervened. Despite being restrained, the man shouted, "Fake pacifist Moon Jaein," and "We must remove the communist Moon Jaein from the free Republic of Korea. Remove the communist," causing a disturbance.

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