Kwon Seong-dong: "Opposition, Stop Political Attacks Including Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation"... No Mention of Resignation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Geum Bo-ryeong] Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the ruling party who is under pressure to resign within the party, raised his voice on the 30th, telling the Democratic Party to "stop the political offensive" regarding their demand for a special prosecution on First Lady Kim Geon-hee. He made no separate remarks about his own position.

At the floor strategy meeting that day, Kwon said, "Since they said the beginning and the end is the people's livelihood, I expected urgent cooperative efforts on pressing livelihood issues, but the first statement from the new leadership of the Democratic Party was the demand for a special prosecution on the First Lady."

He pointed out, "During the previous Moon Jae-in administration, for two years and six months, the prosecution's special investigation unit and the Financial Supervisory Service were mobilized and, to put it bluntly, thoroughly investigated, but the Moon (government) prosecution could not even indict her," adding, "they intend to recycle the special prosecution issue to shake the new government."

He also said, "Representative Lee Jae-myung said he would help the government and ruling party succeed if they go the right way, but he himself must go the right way first," and criticized, "When a couple is under investigation by the prosecution and police, the right path is to sincerely cooperate with the investigation, not to divert attention with a special prosecution."

He also criticized the Moon Jae-in government's decision to dismantle the Four Major Rivers Project. Kwon said, "In January last year, the Moon government decided to dismantle or permanently open five weirs on the Geum and Yeongsan Rivers. Despite opposition from local residents, the enormous economic losses are obvious," adding, "Although the evaluation criteria were controversial, it was hastily processed simply because it was a presidential pledge."

He continued, "The entity responsible for pushing the dismantling of the Four Major Rivers was changed unreasonably. Instead of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, a separate Four Major Rivers Evaluation Committee centered on the Ministry of Environment was formed, and many anti-Four Major Rivers activists were appointed to the planning committee, the internal decision-making body of the evaluation committee. The secretary committee was monopolized by civic group members," criticizing, "The Moon government's decision to dismantle the Four Major Rivers was a predetermined play from the start."

He added, "This incident also showed the corruption of the Democratic Party's 'committee politics.' They gathered civic group personnel in government ministries and local governments to operate various committees," emphasizing, "Dismantling the cartel built by personnel lacking expertise and objectivity is the first task of this National Assembly audit."

Song Eon-seok, the senior deputy floor leader, also joined the criticism of the Moon government, saying, "The Moon government took the banner of denuclearization and pushed solar power, which has been mired in various controversies from the start until now," and urged, "From now on, through proper investigations and inquiries, the government must thoroughly expose the corrupt reality of solar power that has damaged the environment and threatened public safety."

Ryu Seong-geol, chairman of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Livelihood, reported on the status of negotiations regarding the comprehensive real estate tax. He said, "On the 29th, there was a negotiation between the ruling and opposition party floor leaders in the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee regarding the comprehensive real estate tax, but the Democratic Party remained immovable," criticizing, "They proposed to pass only some parts they consider while leaving the rapidly increased tax base unchanged. It is truly a shameless situation."

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