Parliamentary Investigation Tug-of-War... "Ruling Party Veterans, Unacceptable" Trend vs "Opposition, Will Proceed According to Rules if No Cooperation"

People Power Party's Senior Members with Three or More Terms Mostly Oppose "State Audit"
Park Hong-geun "If They Ultimately Refuse to Join, Expect the Chair to Begin Committee Formation According to State Audit Law"

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon, Geum Bo-ryeong, Kwon Hyun-ji] The political battle between the ruling and opposition parties over the 'Itaewon crowd crush disaster' parliamentary investigation has intensified. The Democratic Party, which has launched a nationwide petition campaign, is determined to pass the request for a parliamentary investigation at the plenary session on the 24th. However, to reduce the political burden of a 'unilateral passage,' they must persuade the People Power Party as much as possible. Although the People Power Party criticizes the opposition's pressure for a parliamentary investigation, their cooperation is crucial for reviewing next year's budget, making negotiation skills key amid the confrontation between the two parties.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 14th, during a meeting held by the People Power Party with senior lawmakers holding three or more terms regarding the introduction of a parliamentary investigation into the Itaewon crowd crush disaster, the majority expressed an 'unacceptable' stance. After the meeting, Chung Jin-seok, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, told reporters, "The People Power Party has consistently stated its position on the parliamentary investigation issue, but we intend to transparently disclose every detail to the public without any suspicion through police inspection, investigation, and determination of the cause of the accident, and based on that, identify responsibility." He added, "If the results are deemed insufficient, then it is not too late to discuss a parliamentary investigation or special prosecutor. We reiterated our existing stance that there is an order to things and gathered the opinions of senior lawmakers."

Jang Je-won, a senior lawmaker who attended the meeting, also told reporters afterward, "Most of the senior lawmakers (with three or more terms) unanimously agreed that they cannot accept a parliamentary investigation," describing it as "unanimous." He criticized, "Since the investigation is ongoing, if a parliamentary investigation is held, they will consistently say, 'We cannot comment because the investigation is ongoing,'" adding, "(The parliamentary investigation) would only provide a platform for political attacks." He emphasized, "We should focus on the police investigation, and if it is insufficient, the prosecution will investigate. Observing such investigations is the way to uncover the truth." He further stated, "The major opposition party's street protests are political exploitation. How can we agree to a 'shielding parliament'?"

During the morning meeting, the People Power Party also strongly criticized the Democratic Party's parliamentary investigation demand and the related nationwide petition campaign as "a forced performance to save Lee Jae-myung." Chairman Chung pointed out at the emergency committee meeting that "the ruling party, which can freely conduct parliamentary investigations, special prosecutors, and more, has no reason to take to the streets," and accused, "The entire main opposition party has taken to street protests to block the party leader's judicial processing."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Floor leader Joo Ho-young also criticized the Democratic Party's street petition campaign as a "distraction." Joo said, "(The Democratic Party) says that if the People Power Party does not participate, they will unilaterally pass the parliamentary investigation plan at the plenary session on the 24th," adding, "Even though the Democratic Party, which holds the majority of seats, can pass it unilaterally, they are collecting signatures outside to hide Lee Jae-myung's judicial risks and divert attention, a 'rescue operation for Lee Jae-myung.'" He emphasized that the delay in the National Assembly's budget and bill processing is also due to such opposition party 'obstruction.' This is interpreted as a signal that they will not be dragged into the ruling party's first budget bill review for next year, starting with the opposition's parliamentary investigation offensive.

On the other hand, the Democratic Party emphasized that the nationwide petition campaign demanding a parliamentary investigation and special prosecutor for the Itaewon disaster is a "legitimate political activity" and reiterated their call for the People Power Party to accept the parliamentary investigation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting that "What the people truly want is the truth of that day and the punishment of those responsible through cause identification," adding, "As the largest party in the National Assembly, the Democratic Party will never give up on the National Assembly. Rather, we will do our utmost to ensure the parliamentary investigation and special prosecutor are carried out in the National Assembly to uncover the truth of the Itaewon disaster, punish those responsible, and prepare measures to prevent recurrence."

He also criticized Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, saying, "The minister, who made the outrageous remark, 'Who wouldn't want to dramatically resign' regarding the sacrifice of 158 precious lives, should have already been dismissed and investigated." He further warned, "If President Yoon Seok-yeol continues to defend and protect those responsible for the disaster, including this minister, we will have no choice but to actively consider measures to hold the cabinet strictly accountable."

Although Kim Jin-pyo, the Speaker of the National Assembly, and floor leaders Joo and Park planned to meet at 11 a.m. to discuss parliamentary issues, the failure to reach an agreement on the parliamentary investigation on the 7th and the People Power Party senior lawmakers' unanimous 'unacceptable' stance on the investigation suggest that the ruling and opposition parties will face a difficult path toward agreement on the parliamentary investigation.

Floor leader Park emphasized again, "If the People Power Party ultimately refuses to join the path toward truth and responsibility, I expect the Speaker to promptly begin forming the committee according to the parliamentary investigation law," urging the People Power Party, "I hope you will now heed the will of the people and participate in the parliamentary investigation."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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