Kim Jong-in: "If the Assembly Fails to Fulfill Its Role, the Emergence of Extra-Parliamentary Opposition Parties Is Natural"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] Amid calls within the United Future Party for the necessity of street protests due to the ruling party's unilateral passage of bills in standing committees, Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in also acknowledged the need for street protests, saying, "There is no other way."

Chairman Kim told reporters after a closed-door senior members' joint meeting at the National Assembly on the morning of the 29th, "If the legislature cannot perform its proper function, it naturally leads to the opposition existing outside the assembly, which is common sense," he said.

He added, "If bills are not properly reviewed due to the majority's tyranny like this within the assembly, there is no other way."

At the United Future Party's members' meeting held that day, several lawmakers also emphasized the need for street protests. Lawmaker Hong Moon-pyo said, "This is not the time to remain silent. If we are afraid even to wear a ribbon, we have no value as the opposition," adding, "We need to gather our grievances and at least hang banners. If that is not possible, we should hold small-scale rallies by regional party branches to inform party members."

He pointed out, "Regardless of whether people like or dislike us, we must act together for the Republic of Korea," and said, "Only the steps of deciding and acting through a full meeting inside and outside the assembly remain."

Lawmaker Cho Hae-jin also said, "If this continues, we will have to close the National Assembly," and questioned, "If we have to live the next four years like this, with the existence of the National Assembly and individual lawmakers at stake, what reason is there to cling to the four-year term?" He continued, "Lawmakers who receive salaries but cannot do anything," and said, "The time has come to risk everything and fight to protect parliamentary democracy."

Floor Leader Joo Ho-young said, "We will pursue both inside and outside assembly struggles, but we will consider more concrete methods for street protests," adding, "Looking at the situation yesterday and today, even now with the Judiciary Committee situation, our National Assembly has completely disappeared." Senior party member Jung Jin-seok also revealed, "I proposed a combined inside and outside assembly struggle."

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