"If Special Prosecutor Is Not Accepted, Willing to Fight Outside Parliament"...Opposition Party's Internal Disagreement Over 'Jangoe Protest' Amid COVID-19

Ju Ho-young "I will engage in extra-parliamentary struggle," but... Divisions within the party
Prevailing atmosphere considers COVID-19 prevention and party reform image

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader, and others are attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held on the morning of the 19th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and Seulgi Kim] As Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, expressed his stance that the ruling party should not hesitate to engage in street protests if the Lime and Optimus special investigations are not accepted, attention is focused on whether street protests are possible amid the COVID-19 quarantine situation.

The People Power Party previously raised the need for street protests in August, but failed to gain consensus due to COVID-19 quarantine measures, showing signs of internal disagreement within the party.

On the 18th, Floor Leader Joo said in an interview with a broadcaster, "The means to enforce the special investigation is a parliamentary resolution, but we only have 103 seats, and the Democratic Party, holding the majority, is trying to crush it," adding, "We are also considering street protests. We will do our best to pass the special investigation law within the parliament, but if it fails, we are also exploring ways to appeal directly to the people."

However, some within the party have expressed cautious views. Given that quarantine authorities and citizens are striving to maintain social distancing amid the COVID-19 situation, there are concerns that such protests might give the People Power Party, which advocates party reform, an image of repeating old habits.

On the 20th, Choi Hyung-doo, spokesperson for the People Power Party, dismissed the idea of street protests, saying, "Can we really hold street protests amid the COVID-19 quarantine situation?"

Spokesperson Choi said on YTN Radio's "Hwang Bo-seon's Start of a New Morning," "Parliamentary parties should clarify and fight over this issue within the parliament," emphasizing this point.

He further explained, "How can we gain strength by holding street protests without the consent and support of the people? Since large-scale gatherings are currently not possible, street protests are effectively blocked."

Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman, also drew a line on Floor Leader Joo's 'street protest theory' during the party's emergency committee meeting on the 19th, stating, "(Street protests) are a situation where we must wait first. If efforts through various normal methods fail, we have no choice but to use it as a last resort."

Earlier, the People Power Party had also announced 'street protests' in July but withdrew due to COVID-19 quarantine issues. At that time, Floor Leader Joo showed a cautious attitude toward street protests at an emergency party members' meeting, saying, "There is heavy rain nationwide putting the country in an emergency state, combined with summer heat during the vacation season, and social distancing due to COVID-19."

Chairman Kim also said after the emergency committee meeting on the 30th of last month, "There are talks that street protests might happen, but nothing has been officially decided," adding, "Since the level of our people has completely changed from the past, it is not really normal to just jump out of the parliament and hold street protests."

Meanwhile, even if the People Power Party insists on pushing forward with street protests, the implementation is uncertain due to the assembly ban measures imposed throughout Seoul.

Seoul City announced that from the 12th, the ban on assemblies of 10 or more people has ended, and a ban on assemblies of 100 or more people has been implemented. Additionally, some downtown area assembly bans continue, and even assemblies of fewer than 100 people must comply with quarantine rules.

The city requires assemblies with fewer than 100 participants to comply with seven quarantine rules, including temperature checks, registration, mask-wearing, and maintaining a distance of 2 meters or more, but plans to ban assemblies of 10 or more people in downtown areas such as Gwanghwamun Square.

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