President Moon: "Our government will have no 'final year'... I ask the National Assembly to help beyond party lines"

Published 03 Sep.2021 14:32(KST)

Updated 03 Sep.2021 15:18(KST)

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Park Byeong-seok "Hoping to Be a President Without Lame Duck Period"
Jung Jin-seok Proposes Considering Transition to 'With Corona' Policy

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 3rd, President Moon Jae-in met with the Speaker of the National Assembly and the standing committee chairpersons, urging cooperation by saying, "I hope the National Assembly will help a lot beyond party lines." Deputy Speaker Jeong Jin-seok proposed considering a transition to 'With Corona.'

That morning, President Moon held a luncheon at the Blue House with National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok, Deputy Speakers Kim Sang-hee and Jeong Jin-seok, and standing committee chairpersons from both ruling and opposition parties, stating, "It seems our government will not have a final year."

President Moon said, "I believe we have the responsibility to fulfill our mission as a crisis-overcoming government until the very end of our term, and we will do our best until the last moment," adding, "The task of overcoming COVID-19, restoring daily life, and achieving a new leap cannot end with our government but must continue into the next government, so I hope the National Assembly will help a lot beyond party lines."

He also urged attention to people's livelihoods ahead of the presidential election. President Moon said, "Since the presidential election is approaching, competition between the ruling and opposition parties is inevitable, but competition is competition, and people's livelihoods are people's livelihoods," and requested, "I ask you to join forces in protecting and further developing the lives of the people."

He particularly assessed that legislative and budgetary tasks would not be easy, emphasizing, "It is a time when true cooperation through dialogue and compromise among the ruling party, opposition, and government is desperately needed." Regarding this, he asked for consideration in handling next year's budget, saying it is "a budget where more than half will be used by the next government."

Meanwhile, President Moon congratulated newly appointed Deputy Speaker Jeong Jin-seok and the standing committee chairpersons, expressing expectations that "the formation of the Speaker's group and the distribution of standing committee chairpersons between the ruling and opposition parties have been smoothly carried out," and that this would be an opportunity for bipartisan cooperation amid the COVID-19 crisis. He also praised National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok for his efforts in smoothly operating the National Assembly and commended the achievements of his visits to Turkey and Azerbaijan.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response to President Moon's request, Speaker Park said, "Regarding the operation of the National Assembly, I plan to proceed with the attitude of ‘Seon-u Hu-rak (先憂後樂)’?to endure difficulties first and enjoy happiness later," and added, "I hope that President Moon will be recorded as the first president in our constitutional history without a lame-duck period."

Deputy Speaker Jeong proposed considering a transition to 'With Corona.' He said, "The pain of small business owners and self-employed people right now is indescribable," and added, "Is it right to continue K-quarantine as it is, or is it time to comprehensively review and decide whether to transition to other methods, including 'With Corona'?"

Deputy Speaker Kim referred to the book 'Woke Up as a Developed Country' and suggested, "Following the Miracle Operation, it would be even better if the President could also pay attention to the human rights issues of women, children, and youth in Afghanistan."