Joo Ho-young "To Participate in Debate Against Real Estate Tax Law... Will Abstain from Voting"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Im Chunhan] The United Future Party will engage in opposition debates against the real estate-related tax law amendment scheduled to be processed at the plenary session on the 4th. Through this, they intend to point out issues with both the legislative process and the bill itself. They have decided to express their opposition by not participating in the vote.

After a roughly one-hour-long party meeting on the same day, Floor Leader Joo met with reporters and revealed this response plan.

He explained, "There were various discussions about the problematic bill. Some opinions suggested blocking it even through a filibuster (legal obstruction of parliamentary proceedings), but more opinions favored strongly opposing the bill in debate so that the public can easily understand the issues, and not participating in the vote."

However, Floor Leader Joo added, "We will participate in the vote on the Government Organization Act, Sports Promotion Act, and Infectious Disease Prevention Act, which were passed by consensus between the ruling and opposition parties in the standing committee."

Regarding criticism that they might not be actively utilizing measures allowed under the National Assembly Act, such as requesting the agenda adjustment committee, he said, "If we work hard, aren’t we called too hardline?" and added, "It seems that everyone has different opinions on how to approach this." He continued, "Yesterday, the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee requested the agenda adjustment committee regarding the bad law banning anti-North Korea leaflets," and stated, "We are carefully reviewing and gathering opinions on the agenda adjustment committee, the full committee, and filibuster."

Regarding Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol’s remarks at the new prosecutors’ induction ceremony the day before, where he spoke of "true democracy that rejects dictatorship and totalitarianism disguised as democracy," he evaluated it as "talking about the natural principles of democracy."

Floor Leader Joo said, "Isn’t there a lot of concern about many cases where democracy is claimed but the majority is used to carry out things that are not truly democratic?" and added, "I hope the determination Prosecutor General Yoon expressed yesterday will be realized in actual investigations and through investigation leadership."

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