Democratic and Justice Parties Turn Away from Yoon's Policy Speech... People Power Party Supports with Handshakes and Cheers

Chilly Atmosphere Amidst Extreme Confrontation Between Ruling and Opposition Parties
Justice Party and Basic Income Party Also Protest with Placards
People Power Party's Warm Welcome, Whispering with Jang Je-won

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] On the 25th, as President Yoon Seok-yeol delivered the policy speech at the National Assembly, the interior of the plenary session hall was divided between the two major parties and some minor parties, creating a chilly atmosphere. Outside the plenary hall, voices of protest from Democratic Party lawmakers demanding "Apologize" could be heard, while inside, members of the People Power Party continued to welcome the president, showing contrasting scenes.

President Yoon delivered the government’s policy speech on the 2023 budget bill at the National Assembly plenary session hall that morning. However, from the start of the session, Democratic Party lawmakers began a protest condemning the prosecution’s raid on the party headquarters the previous day, which cooled the atmosphere. With Democratic Party members refusing to attend the session, more than half of the seats in the plenary hall were empty when the policy speech began.

The Justice Party also showed a tough stance toward the government and ruling party by entering the plenary hall holding placards that read "Apologize, you XX!", "Withdraw the tax cuts for the rich! Expand the livelihood budget!"

This led to loud exchanges between People Power Party and Justice Party lawmakers. When Justice Party members entered holding placards, People Power Party lawmakers shouted, "Justice Party, enough already," and "You have no manners," to which Justice Party members responded by demanding, "Apologize."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Yong Hye-in, a lawmaker from the Basic Income Party, also expressed her protest by attaching a placard to her seat in the plenary hall that read, "Respecting the National Assembly is necessary to normalize state affairs."

After finishing the speech, President Yoon first turned toward the minor parties in the assembly. He greeted lawmaker Yong, Jo Jeong-hoon of the Transition Korea Party, independent lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja, in sequence. However, Justice Party lawmakers all exited the hall immediately after President Yoon’s policy speech ended, failing to greet him.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, as he exits after delivering the budget address for the next year at the National Assembly plenary session on the 25th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

In contrast, People Power Party lawmakers supported President Yoon with a warm reception despite the cold atmosphere. As soon as President Yoon entered, all People Power Party lawmakers stood and applauded him. During the speech, they actively responded with 19 rounds of applause and cheers.

After greeting the minor parties, President Yoon toured the ministerial seats, exchanging greetings with People Power Party lawmakers surrounding him, followed by floor leader Joo Ho-young. He shook hands with lawmakers one by one as he toured the hall.

He also patted the shoulder of lawmaker Jang Je-won, known as a "Yoon Core Member" (a key associate of President Yoon Seok-yeol), clasped hands with him, and exchanged whispers.

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