Yoon Visits National Assembly Six Days After Inauguration... Emphasizes 'Cooperation' Amid Repeated Economic and Crisis Challenges

During 15-Minute Speech, Economy Mentioned 10 Times, Crisis 9 Times... "Calls for Bipartisan Cooperation Beyond Camps and Parties"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Baek Kyunghwan and Park Junyi] The message delivered by President Yoon Suk-yeol during his visit to the National Assembly just six days after his inauguration can be summarized as focusing on the economy and cooperation. He made his second policy speech to the National Assembly as president to request the passage of the supplementary budget bill (추경), but political circles interpret this as a choice to break through the extreme situation of a minority government with an opposition majority. Since the supplementary budget was a matter commonly advocated by both ruling and opposition parties during the presidential election process, there is expected to be little variable in its passage through the National Assembly. It was said to be a card to pressure the opposition by emphasizing bipartisan cooperation and cooperation between ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly amid delays in forming the new cabinet.

At 10:03 a.m. on the 16th, President Yoon appeared in the plenary session hall of the National Assembly. Starting with a handshake with Yoon Ho-jung, Emergency Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the entrance, he greeted the members of the assembly and then took the podium. Explaining the purpose of his policy speech, President Yoon said, "Today, I stand here to directly explain the main contents of the 2022 second supplementary budget and fund operation plan prepared by the government to the members of the assembly," and added, "I want to contemplate together with the members the current situation our country faces and the tasks the new government must solve going forward."

The word President Yoon used most frequently that day was "economy." During the 15-minute policy speech, he repeated it 10 times, emphasizing macroeconomic stability such as interest rates and prices, and thorough management of the livelihood economy. He also used the word "crisis" nine times. Starting from the quarantine crisis, he repeatedly mentioned economic and livelihood crises, saying, "We must overcome the crisis through bipartisan cooperation."

As concrete measures to overcome domestic and international crises and challenges, he presented pension reform, labor reform, and education reform. President Yoon pointed out three key reforms: ▲ pension reform to provide a flawless social safety net ▲ labor reform to create many jobs ▲ education reform to provide education fairly in line with the level of technological advancement.

The most notable part was the emphasis on bipartisan cooperation between the government and the National Assembly. President Yoon stressed that the most necessary thing for pension reform, labor reform, and education reform is cooperation between the government and the National Assembly. He also emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation to restore the livelihood economy. President Yoon said, "There is a proud history of overcoming crises through bipartisan cooperation in front of the people's livelihood, even while the ruling and opposition parties fiercely compete," and added, "We are demanding bipartisan cooperation beyond camps or factions more strongly than ever."

The Democratic Party's response to the policy speech that day was relatively calm. They applauded both when President Yoon entered and left, and some members smiled while shaking hands with him. However, there was also an atmosphere within the party emphasizing reform. During the policy speech, Democratic Party lawmaker Heo Jong-sik posted on social media, "I am listening to the supplementary budget speech of the new President Yoon Suk-yeol. Mixed feelings are crossing my mind. I am biting my lips, enduring again and again," and wrote, "Now please put away the whip that was used to beat the Democratic Party and encourage us."

In political circles, although President Yoon personally urged cooperation in the National Assembly, it is expected that the confrontation between ruling and opposition parties during the new government’s cabinet formation process will not be easily resolved. First, President Yoon is highly likely to appoint Han Dong-hoon as Minister of Justice as early as the 17th. The Democratic Party has judged Han as unfit even before the confirmation hearing due to controversies over his children's academic credentials. The confirmation hearing lasted a long 17 hours and 30 minutes on the 9th, but the ruling and opposition parties failed to adopt the report after their positions diverged. According to the Personnel Hearing Act, if the National Assembly misses the deadline for adopting the hearing report, the president can request resubmission within ten days, and if the report is not sent by then, the president can appoint the candidate as is. Therefore, President Yoon’s decision is practically scheduled.

Inside the presidential office, there are concerns that Han’s appointment as minister could cause backlash for Prime Minister nominee Han Deok-soo. Since political circles analyze that the Democratic Party is linking the approval of Han Dong-hoon and Han Deok-soo, President Yoon’s attempt at cooperation in the National Assembly could end in vain.

However, President Yoon plans to attend the 42nd anniversary ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Uprising on the 18th and deliver another message of national unity and harmony. President Yoon, who has tried to embrace regardless of regional colors or factional logic, promised during the last presidential election to attend the May 18 ceremony after visiting Gwangju and the Honam region.

In particular, President Yoon requested that all People Power Party lawmakers, senior presidential secretaries, and all newly appointed ministers attend this ceremony. This is said to be a card to deliver a message of national unity by having the party, government, and presidential office all attend, and also to pressure the Democratic Party through a public opinion campaign. A presidential office official said, "The new government’s role establishment in diplomacy, including the supplementary budget, cabinet formation, and national unity, starts with cooperation in the National Assembly," and added, "We hope that the policy speech will create an opportunity to resolve conflicts between ruling and opposition parties."

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