Cooperation is Cooperation, Choo Mi-ae is Choo Mi-ae... Joo Ho-young's Negotiation Group Representative Speech Today

Lee Nak-yeon Speech Responds to 'Cooperation'
Strong Response to Choo Son's Favoritism Allegations
Pressure Including Urging Special Prosecutor Appointment

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 8th, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, will sharply target the special treatment allegations surrounding Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's son in his negotiation group representative speech. On the same day, during the National Assembly plenary session in the afternoon, Floor Leader Joo is expected to criticize the allegations of preferential military leave for Minister Choo’s son and reiterate the call for the appointment of a special prosecutor. He is also known to emphasize practical cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties on livelihood measures to overcome the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis. This appears to be in response to the speech by Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. However, given the People Power Party’s offensive against Minister Choo and the ruling party’s push to forcibly pass the amendment bill on the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, a considerable period of turmoil is expected before actual cooperation can be achieved.

At the emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly the previous day, Floor Leader Joo pressured regarding the investigation into the allegations involving Minister Choo’s son, stating, "This case has been unresolved for eight months at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office, and those who dismissed testimonies of key witnesses are now attempting to return to the investigation team." He added, "I hope Minister Choo either allows an independent special prosecutor to investigate or makes a decisive decision to resign from her position as Minister of Justice."

The People Power Party has made it clear that if the prosecution’s investigation is insufficient, pursuing a special prosecutor at the National Assembly level will be inevitable. Since military service issues are sensitive to the entire nation, this is interpreted as an attempt to intensify pressure on the government and ruling party. Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman, pointed out, "The public watching Minister Choo’s son receive preferential ‘mom’s chance’ military service feels a d?j? vu of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk’s ‘dad’s chance,’ which undermined fairness in education last fall."

Floor Leader Joo is reported to express his intention to actively cooperate with the passage of the 4th supplementary budget bill (supplementary budget) by emphasizing the importance of livelihood measures related to COVID-19. The People Power Party proposed the supplementary budget and emergency disaster relief payments ahead of the Democratic Party this time. Regarding the passage of the ‘COVID-19 Crisis Escape Livelihood Support Package Act,’ which was introduced as the People Power Party’s first bill in the 21st National Assembly, Floor Leader Joo said, "It is very unusual for the opposition party’s first bill to be prioritized amid the ruling party’s legislative rampage, and this proves that the bill we promoted is a tailored law essential for overcoming the COVID-19 crisis and supporting livelihoods."

Meanwhile, on the 7th, opposition parties including the People Power Party unusually praised the ruling party leader’s negotiation group representative speech. Choi Hyung-doo, spokesperson for the People Power Party floor, said, "Leader Lee mentioned the spirit of ‘Ubuntu,’ meaning ‘I am because you are.’ The opposition is fully prepared to cooperate and coordinate with the ruling party’s progressive changes." He added, "It was a dignified and resonant speech befitting the leader of the new ruling party. We hope the ruling party leader will demonstrate politics that creates hope through actions." Ahn Hye-jin, spokesperson for the People’s Party, also evaluated, "He showed the demeanor of a leader with common sense and rational thinking by urging lawmakers from both sides to promptly process the supplementary budget bill soon to be submitted to the National Assembly."

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