Opposition Party, Private High-Level Party-Government Meeting... Discussion on Lee Sang-min's Dismissal and Budget Bill

Discussion on Follow-up Measures Following the National Assembly's Passage of the Motion to Dismiss Minister of the Interior and Safety Sang-min Lee

On the morning of the 11th, members of the People Power Party protested by holding placards in opposition to the convening of a plenary session for the processing of the motion to dismiss Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 11th, the People Power Party, the government, and the Presidential Office held a closed-door high-level party-government consultation meeting to discuss follow-up measures after the National Assembly passed the motion to dismiss Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, as well as negotiations on next year's budget and other current issues.

According to political circles, the consultation meeting was held privately around 4 p.m. at the Prime Minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. From the People Power Party, Emergency Response Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok, Floor Leader Joo Ho-young, and Policy Committee Chairman Seong Il-jong attended. From the government, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and others participated, while from the Presidential Office, Senior Secretary for State Planning Lee Gwan-seop and Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Lee Jin-bok were present.

During the consultation, a comprehensive review was conducted on year-end national affairs, including follow-up responses to the Democratic Party's forcible passage of the motion to dismiss Minister Lee Sang-min and budget negotiations. The party and government agreed that the Democratic Party's dismissal motion is actually hindering the investigation into the Itaewon tragedy. Accordingly, negotiations with the opposition regarding the National Assembly's state audit were entrusted to the floor leadership, but the possibility of a 'full boycott' was not ruled out.

Negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties for the passage of next year's budget were also discussed. The consultation expressed strong criticism that the Democratic Party opposes the revision of corporate tax, which is a key part of the government's current tax reform plan. Additionally, the party and government evaluated that their principled response to the Cargo Truckers Solidarity's collective transport refusal had achieved some results. Accordingly, they decided to entrust Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong with handling future demands from the labor sector for the extension of the sunset clause on the Safe Freight Rate system and to continue a principled response. They also agreed to review whether the existing Safe Freight Rate system is effective in the logistics field and to discuss possible improvements to the system.

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