"Don't Point Fingers" Heated Debate in the Legislative Committee, 'Grain Law' Restoration Dispute

Opposition Refuses Direct Referral of Grain Act and Other Bills to Subcommittee, Calling It "Chairman's Tyranny"
Ruling Party Responds "According to National Assembly Act," Criticizes "Judiciary Committee Chair Undermining"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 15th, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over bills referred to the second subcommittee on legislation, including the Grain Management Act, at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The Democratic Party criticized the referral of the Grain Management Act, which had been resolved to be submitted to the plenary session by the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, and Oceans Committee according to the National Assembly Act, to the second subcommittee as inconsistent with the National Assembly Act and demanded restoration to the original state. The People Power Party countered by emphasizing legal and procedural legitimacy, calling it an attempt to "shake the chairman." During this process, loud exchanges occurred between lawmakers from both parties, causing a brief disturbance.

On the 15th, at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Chairman Kim Do-eup is striking the gavel. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the same day, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won explained, "On January 16, during the full committee review, 11 bills, including the Grain Management Act, which Democratic Party lawmakers opposed, were referred to the second subcommittee on legislation with only People Power Party lawmakers present." He added, "The Grain Management Act had already been resolved in the relevant standing committee to be submitted to the plenary session according to the National Assembly Act." He further stated, "Only the decision on whether to submit to the plenary session remained according to the National Assembly Act, and referring it again to the second subcommittee of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is not in accordance with the National Assembly Act," and requested, "Please restore the bills that were in the second subcommittee to their original state so that they can be processed according to the majority opinion of the committee members."

Another lawmaker from the same party, Choi Kang-wook, criticized, "For bills that have entered the plenary session procedure, suddenly, without following normal procedures or past precedents, the chairman claimed to exercise his authority to bring them up, but without properly asking for opinions or going through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's approval process, they were quietly referred to the second subcommittee." He added, "Handling the remaining bills in the same manner can only be seen as the chairman's arbitrary or tyrannical act," and pointed out, "It is regrettable to twist and apply the National Assembly Act procedures and call the approval process by the majority 'a rush decision'."

However, People Power Party lawmakers immediately rebutted by emphasizing legal and procedural legitimacy. Lawmaker Jang Dong-hyuk said, "Bills from other committees that passed the agenda adjustment committee were pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and before being submitted to the plenary session, they were referred to the second subcommittee according to precedent and the National Assembly Act." He pointed out, "Although 60 days have passed since they were pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, for various reasons, these bills have not been properly discussed, so referring them to the second subcommittee for discussion is being strongly opposed, and instead, they are trying to push them through the plenary session by numerical strength again, which is incomprehensible." Jang questioned, "Why attack the chairman so much for referring bills to the second subcommittee according to the National Assembly Act and past precedent?"

Lawmaker Jeon Ju-hye also said, "The National Assembly is not a place to just stamp out laws," and added, "There needs to be discussion about any side effects caused by the enforcement of this Grain Management Act." She criticized, "The Grain Management Act proceeded rapidly after only a formal agenda adjustment committee in the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, and Oceans Committee, and there was no proper review of its side effects," and said, "That is why it was referred to the second subcommittee for systematic and detailed review in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, but demanding an apology while shaking the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairman over this is asking the chairman to act as a figurehead."

During this process, a loud exchange occurred between Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chairman Kim Do-eup and Democratic Party lawmakers.

Chairman Kim, in response to lawmaker Choi's demand for an apology regarding the conduct of the meeting, retorted, "If I apologize for that, should I also organize and apologize for the mistakes of Democratic Party lawmakers so far?" Choi countered, "What must be protected should be protected." Amid the dispute, when Chairman Kim pointed his finger at lawmaker Choi, Choi raised his voice, saying, "Where are you pointing your finger?" When fellow party member lawmaker Kim Nam-guk urged, "Apologize and move on," Chairman Kim snapped back, "Does lawmaker Kim have the right to say that?" causing a commotion.

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