The Democratic Party earnestly requests: "Parliamentary audit after budget approval"

After the Meeting of Senior Lawmakers on the 29th, They Stated This
"Please Regain Your Composure"

Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader of the People Power Party / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, has reiterated his request to the Democratic Party of Korea for a 'parliamentary audit after the budget bill is passed.'

After an emergency meeting of senior lawmakers held at the National Assembly on the 29th, Floor Leader Joo told reporters, "I believe that demanding the dismissal of the Minister of the Interior and Safety, who is responsible for managing the Itaewon disaster, and processing the dismissal will lead the National Assembly into deadlock, cause us to miss the legal deadline for passing the budget bill, and eliminate the political domain," adding, "I earnestly hope that they will comply as agreed, even now."

The ruling and opposition parties had agreed on the 23rd to conduct a parliamentary audit after the budget bill was passed, but since then, the Democratic Party has demanded the dismissal of Minister Lee Sang-min of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Initially, the Democratic Party planned to submit a dismissal recommendation for Minister Lee on the 1st of next month and hold a vote on the 2nd, but at a party meeting on that day, they announced that they would "decide on an appropriate time and method."

In response, Floor Leader Joo said, "Isn't the Democratic Party trying to break the agreement on the parliamentary audit first?" and emphasized, "In the spirit of cooperation, it is right to conduct the parliamentary audit and hold those responsible accountable after passing the budget bill as agreed."

Floor Leader Joo also said, "At this harsh time both domestically and internationally, when the political world should be putting their heads together, political deadlock and disputes are rampant, making it difficult to properly investigate the Itaewon disaster. I earnestly request that they regain composure and keep the agreement," adding, "Please keep the agreement so that the parliamentary audit after the barely saved budget bill can be properly conducted."

He further stated, "Tomorrow, the Budget Committee's budget review will be completed, and the plenary session will be held, but I understand that even the first round of reduction review has not been completed yet," and said, "We have to work hard until the regular session, but if they bring the dismissal recommendation, everything will be lost. I want to ask what benefit this really brings to the country and the people."

Regarding the 'boycott of the parliamentary audit,' he expressed a reserved stance. Floor Leader Joo said, "Since the Democratic Party has not yet finalized the dismissal recommendation, our response may vary depending on their decision, but currently, the floor leadership has delegated authority and has not made a definitive statement, so we are withholding our position," and explained, "If they submit the dismissal recommendation, it means the Democratic Party broke the agreement first."

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