Ruling and Opposition Clash Over Safe Freight Rate System... Ruling Party Calls It "Parliamentary Violence," Opposition Says "Urgent Legislation" (Comprehensive)

Land Transport Committee, Opposition Unilaterally Submits 'Safe Freight Rate System'...Ruling Party Calls It "Parliamentary Violence" and Boycotts
Opposition: "Government and Ruling Party Lack Will to Resolve...Bill Submission Necessary"
Ruling Party: "Democrats Are Subcontractors of Minnocho...Parliamentary Violence Must Stop"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] On the 2nd, the Democratic Party of Korea held a Transportation Bill Review Subcommittee meeting under the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and unilaterally submitted a bill to extend the sunset clause of the Safe Freight Rate System. The People Power Party held a press conference condemning it as a “Democratic Party’s parliamentary violence” and boycotted the meeting, leading to a heated argument filled with loud voices in the conference room.

As the government is taking a strong stance toward the Safe Freight Rate System, which triggered the Cargo Solidarity strike, aiming for its “complete abolition,” the opposition party appears to be siding with the Cargo Solidarity, resulting in a standoff with the government and ruling party.

On the 2nd, the Transportation Bill Review Subcommittee of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, chaired by Democratic Party lawmaker Choi In-ho (subcommittee chair), held a bill subcommittee meeting and unilaterally submitted the Partial Amendment Bill to the Freight Motor Vehicle Transport Business Act (proposed by lawmaker Jo O-seop) by the opposition party alone. Attending as Democratic Party members were Subcommittee Chair Choi In-ho, Maeng Sung-kyu, Min Hong-chul, Lee So-young, Han Jun-ho, and Hong Ki-won. People Power Party lawmakers Kang Dae-sik, Park Jeong-ha, Seo Il-jun, and Jeong Dong-man, members of the Transportation Subcommittee, boycotted the meeting in protest.

Before the meeting, Kim Jeong-jae, the People Power Party’s floor leader for the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, came to the meeting room and strongly protested the Democratic Party’s unilateral subcommittee meeting, causing a commotion.

Lawmaker Kim said, “The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is holding a strike by taking the public hostage, but the Democratic Party unilaterally holding a meeting is unacceptable. Why should we play a supporting role while they do whatever they want with the bill? This meeting is null and void.” He added, “People Power Party cannot recognize today’s meeting. If we start accepting unilateral meetings, the Democratic Party’s reckless and violent behavior will continue.” Kim also said, “The meeting was held without agreement on the agenda, and the budget was unilaterally passed by the Democratic Party. Is the Democratic Party a subcontractor of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions?”

In response, Democratic Party members of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee immediately pushed back. Democratic Party lawmaker Han Jun-ho said, “The ruling party must take responsibility. The sunset clause is approaching soon; when else will this bill be discussed?” and added, “Calling us subcontractors of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is inappropriate. Please watch your words.” Kim responded, “The Democratic Party must stop its parliamentary violence,” and Democratic Party lawmaker Lee So-young said, “Isn’t it the ruling party’s job to work? Not attending the bill discussion as the ruling party is utterly irresponsible,” leading to a loud exchange of words.

Choi In-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding a press conference regarding the constitutional amendment proposal at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 15th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Subcommittee Chair Choi In-ho stated, “The Safe Freight Rate System was introduced temporarily for three years from 2018 until the end of this year. Since today, December 2nd, is less than a month before the sunset, there is less than two weeks left to process the bill.” He added, “This is a critical time for bill deliberation, so today’s Transportation Bill Subcommittee must discuss this bill. The government should open a breakthrough in negotiations directly, but the government and ruling party do not show such a stance. The ruling party floor leader left the meeting, which is disappointing and irresponsible.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the relevant department, did not attend the bill subcommittee meeting, so the subcommittee passed a motion requesting their attendance at the December 9th bill subcommittee meeting. Even if the bill passes the Transportation Subcommittee through this deliberation, it still must go through the plenary session, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and the plenary session of the National Assembly.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, due to significant differences with the People Power Party, even if it passes the subcommittee, it is highly likely to be blocked at the plenary session or the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

People Power Party lawmakers, who boycotted the subcommittee as a group, pointed out at a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Hall that the current Safe Freight Rate System has problems such as being the only one among 38 OECD countries to punish consignors and having no effect on improving traffic safety.

People Power Party lawmakers demanded, “The Democratic Party, which destroys parliamentary democracy by wielding its overwhelming number of seats as a weapon, must immediately withdraw today’s forced Transportation Bill Subcommittee of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and start discussions through bipartisan cooperation to end the unjustified collective transport refusal by the Cargo Solidarity, which is marked by illegal and violent acts.”

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