Jang Hyeyoung Criticizes Ruling Party: "What Was Hindered by the Filibuster? Using COVID-19 as an Excuse Without Sincerity"

Jang Hyeyoung, a Justice Party lawmaker, is questioning at the National Assembly Planning and Finance Committee's audit held last October at the Government Gwangju Joint Office in Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy, reporter Kang Juhee] On December 15, Jang Hyeyoung, a lawmaker from the Justice Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea for forcibly ending the opposition’s filibuster (unlimited debate) citing the spread of COVID-19, saying, "They are only using COVID-19 as an excuse without providing any clear reason."

Appearing on KBS Radio’s "Kim Kyungrae’s Strongest Current Affairs" that day, Jang said, "The ruling party, which holds an overwhelming majority of seats, should have clearly explained what exactly it was unable to do because of the filibuster, but it did not do so."

She continued, "Democracy is about majority rule, but it is also about fully respecting minority opinions. Unlimited debate by minority parties is therefore legally guaranteed. The Democratic Party used COVID-19 as an excuse, but if their statements were truly sincere, they should have also provided concrete details."

Regarding the passage of the amendment to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) Act at the National Assembly plenary session on December 10, Jang stated, "This is not just a problem with the amendment itself, but a problem for democracy. The opposition’s veto power was a key basis for the CIO’s independence and neutrality, but that veto power has been undermined in the 21st National Assembly. It is essentially a declaration of abandoning independence and neutrality."

She went on to say, "Can the CIO, which was forcibly launched by neutralizing the opposition’s veto power, truly achieve meaningful prosecution reform?" She expressed concern, adding, "Since it is being launched having already lost any independence and neutrality, it will merely continue to be a source of endless political strife."

Regarding her decision to abstain from voting on the CIO Act amendment, in defiance of the Justice Party’s official stance, Jang explained, "I struggled with the belief that, for genuine prosecution reform, we must clearly express the view of democrats that independence and neutrality should not be compromised." She added, "I took an oath to carry out my duties according to my conscience. I made the difficult choice because I believed I had to leave a dissenting voice in the Assembly, so as not to be ashamed of that oath."

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