'Daechung-dong Special Prosecutor' Sign Sparks Loud Clash Between Ruling and Opposition Lawmakers in Land, Infrastructure Committee from the Start

People Power Party Posts 'Special Prosecutor Introduction' Signs
Ruling Party Lawmakers Demand "Take Down the Signs"
Loud Arguments for Over 50 Minutes... Chaos from the Start

On the morning of the 5th, at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City, officials from the People Power Party are attaching signs related to the Daejang-dong scandal to their committee seats during the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Administrative City Construction Agency, and the Saemangeum Development Agency.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Ruling and opposition party lawmakers belonging to the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee clashed over the introduction of a special prosecutor for the 'Daejang-dong Gate' from the first day of the government audit. When the opposition party displayed signs calling for the 'special prosecutor,' the ruling party strongly opposed, demanding the signs be taken down, leading to continued confusion.

On the 5th, People Power Party lawmakers belonging to the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee placed signs in front of their seats at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport audit site that read, "Accept the Special Prosecutor for Lee Jae-myung's Pangyo Daejang-dong Gate."

The Democratic Party lawmakers requested the removal of the signs, but the People Power Party lawmakers refused, resulting in loud exchanges between the ruling and opposition parties even before the audit began.

Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon pointed out, "(The signs) clearly constitute objects that interfere with the proceedings according to the National Assembly Act," adding, "The audit is a session to examine whether the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is properly executing administration and budget, but (the People Power Party side) is attaching signs and undermining the authority of the National Assembly themselves."

In response, People Power Party lawmaker Song Seok-jun said, "We could have expressed our opinions on the Daejang-dong incident in a more radical way, but we attached the signs out of respect for the ruling party's position," rejecting the request to take down the signs.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Hoe-jae stated, "There are many pressing issues that the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee should be seriously considering rather than the (Daejang-dong Gate special prosecutor). I hope the audit focuses on policy rather than politics," adding, "The prosecution and police are already investigating diligently, so calling for a special prosecutor now is equivalent to saying they should stop the investigation."

However, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Sang-hoon said, "Yesterday, People Power Party lawmakers even held a video conference because of the attachments. Since the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee is related to Daejang-dong, there was an agreement that it would be good for People Power Party lawmakers to express their opinions in this way," adding, "The Democratic Party is likely to completely reject the adoption of witnesses related to Daejang-dong, so opposition lawmakers are expressing their opinions in this manner."

In particular, People Power Party lawmaker Park Sung-min raised his voice, saying, "(The ruling party) I don't understand why they are trembling over the signs," and "We won't take them down."

Democratic Party lawmaker Moon Jin-seok criticized, "It's the first day of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee audit, and seeing the Daejang-dong placards, I feel too ashamed to face the public," adding, "There were two opportunities for public development, but both were blocked by the People Power Party."

Lee Heon-seung, chairman of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, attempted to proceed with the audit, saying, "There has never been a precedent of recess due to signs before," but after about 50 minutes of loud exchanges between both sides, he declared a recess.

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