With "Take all standing committee chairmanships except the Legislation and Judiciary Committee"... Opposition says "Declaration of war, must hand over the Legislation and Judiciary Committee"

Yun Hojung Proposes Transfer of 7 Standing Committee Chairs Except Legal Affairs Committee
People Power Party Says Proposal Came Without Prior Consultation
"Legal Affairs Committee Chair Is Not a Bargaining Chip"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The People Power Party expressed an unacceptable stance regarding the Democratic Party of Korea's announcement to hand over seven standing committee chairmanships except for the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, while showing a heated reaction, calling it a "declaration of war."

On the 18th, Choo Kyung-ho, the senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, and Jeon Ju-hye, the floor spokesperson, held a press conference to refute the remarks of Yoon Ho-jung, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, emphasizing that "the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee should be held by the opposition party."

Earlier, Floor Leader Yoon stated at the Supreme Council meeting, "We will return the chairmanships of the Political Affairs, Land, Education, Culture and Sports, Environment and Labor, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Budget and Accounts Committees to the People Power Party," adding, "However, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which the People Power Party stubbornly claimed for a year and called 'stolen goods,' is not subject to negotiation."

Senior Deputy Floor Leader Choo said, "The very act of talking about the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee as if it were a bargaining chip is nothing but a declaration that they will continue to run the National Assembly with arrogance, dogmatism, and unilateralism," expressing "deep regret." He added, "The ruling party's unilateral decision to proceed as they see fit without engaging in behind-the-scenes negotiations or dialogue with the opposition floor leader is a kind of declaration of war," and said, "I think it will be difficult to move toward the national governance that the people expect if this attitude continues."

He also said, "The chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee was forcibly taken by the Democratic Party with the overwhelming power of 180 seats, which the opposition had held until now," and emphasized, "The issues of other standing committee chairmanships and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship are not matters for bargaining."

Floor Spokesperson Jeon pointed out, "The representative example is the three lease laws that were passed by a sudden vote," and criticized, "It fully demonstrates that while the ruling party held the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the checks and balances of the legislature over the executive branch did not function at all."

Senior Deputy Floor Leader Choo explained that Floor Leader Yoon's mention of the standing committee chairmanships came without any discussion between the two parties. He said, "We said returning the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to the opposition party is the first step in all negotiations, and since the ruling party found it difficult to return the chairmanship as known, there was no additional dialogue to narrow the gap," adding, "Floor Leader Yoon's remarks are exactly the same as what our party said we could not accept a year ago."

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