Picket Protests Reappear and Kim Jong-in Skips Meeting... Joo Ho-young Faces 'Excessive Search' Controversy

President Moon Jae-in's National Assembly Policy Speech on the 28th
People Power Party Picket Protest and Condemnation Speech... President Moon "Hopes for Meeting with Party Leader"

President Moon Jae-in is leaving the plenary session hall after delivering the policy speech on next year's budget bill on the 28th./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Wondara and Im Chunhan] President Moon Jae-in's first budget address to the 21st National Assembly, emphasizing 'cooperation,' took place amid picket protests by the People Power Party. Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, did not attend the pre-address briefing as a protest against the refusal to accept the demand for a special prosecutor investigation into the 'Lime and Optimus scandals.' Controversy also arose over the 'excessive search' of Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party.

On the morning of the 28th, tight pre-security measures were in place at the National Assembly, seemingly to prevent incidents like the 'shoe-throwing' that occurred during the previous address. The People Power Party lined up in front of the plenary hall about an hour before President Moon's address, holding hand-held placards with slogans such as "What is happening to the country?" and "Is this a country?" At the members' meeting held in the Budget Committee room opposite the plenary hall, condemnation speeches continued.

In the tense atmosphere, spokesperson Kim Eun-hye suddenly announced that Chairman Kim would not attend the pre-briefing. Spokesperson Kim said, "Chairman Kim decided not to attend the pre-briefing as a protest against the refusal to accept the public demand for a special prosecutor investigation into the Lime and Optimus scandals."

Floor leader Joo Ho-young turned away from the chairman's office, where the pre-briefing was held, and headed to the plenary hall. Just before President Moon's entrance, loud shouts erupted from the People Power Party seats, where members had attached placards to the monitors, claiming that "the Blue House security team searched the opposition floor leader." Spokesperson Bae Hyun-jin said, "When the floor leader was entering the chairman's office meeting, security staff intervened and conducted an identity check. Is there anyone who does not know that Joo Ho-young is the floor leader of the People Power Party?" She added, "Is it acceptable for those who came to cooperate to behave like this? We strongly express regret and demand an official apology and explanation from the Blue House."

President Moon expressed hope for a meeting with opposition leaders during the pre-briefing. He said, "Due to the COVID-19 situation, it has been somewhat difficult to create conditions for mutual meetings and dialogue," and added, "I hope to invite party leaders again and create opportunities for dialogue while monitoring the COVID-19 situation."

Speaker Park Byeong-seok, responding to the continued shouts from the opposition, said, "I regret that such an incident occurred, and I will thoroughly verify the facts and take appropriate measures." President Moon entered the hall exchanging nods with members of the Democratic Party, who greeted his entrance with a standing ovation.

Although the People Power Party was initially expected to boycott, they attended the plenary session. However, before the address, floor leader Joo sent a text message to People Power Party members urging, "Please observe the president's ceremonial etiquette, but as representatives of the people, boldly speak out against hypocrisy and false statements." He also added, "When leaving, please convey the people's words such as 'Please listen to the people's voice,' 'Mr. President, be honest,' and 'Is this a country?' when shaking hands with People Power Party members." This is understood to be a reference to the 2017 address by President Moon, when the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, held a picket protest but lowered their placards and shook hands with the president with smiles when he requested a handshake upon leaving.

Thanks to enhanced security by the National Assembly Secretariat during this address, incidents like the previous shoe-throwing did not occur. The Secretariat completely restricted outsiders around the main building stairs and set control lines around the red carpet where President Moon walked to the main building. The press received badges for their respective reporting locations and were allowed to cover only in pre-approved areas. Previously, during the opening ceremony speech of the 21st National Assembly, a conservative-leaning individual, Jeong Chang-ok, took off and threw a shoe at President Moon in front of the main building entrance after the speech.

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