Democrats Accuse Foreign Affairs Committee of Illegal Operation... 'Forced Labor Resolution' Invalid

"Urgent Need for Korea-Japan Cooperation"
Joo Ho-young Calls on Counterintelligence Agencies to 'Eradicate Pro-North Forces'

On the 14th, the People Power Party strongly declared the resolution adopted by the Democratic Party of Korea, which held a solo meeting of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and urged the withdrawal of the government's 'solution to forced labor during Japanese colonial rule,' as 'invalid.'

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated at the party's floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "The Democratic Party unilaterally operated the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee illegally," and emphasized, "According to the National Assembly Act, a meeting held unilaterally without bipartisan agreement is clearly invalid."

Leader Joo pointed out, "Standing committees must conduct meetings through agreement between the ruling and opposition party secretaries, and only if the chairman refuses to hold a meeting can another negotiating party secretary become chairman and hold the meeting. Chairman Kim Tae-ho of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee maintained his position that meetings cannot be held without bipartisan agreement, yet the Democratic Party unilaterally held the meeting and even adopted an unacceptable resolution."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 14th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Earlier, the Democratic Party had held a solo plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee the previous day, condemning the government's 'solution to forced labor during Japanese colonial rule' and adopting a resolution urging the withdrawal of the government plan and an apology from Japan. At that time, members of the People Power Party boycotted the meeting, suspecting that the unagreed agenda was intended to influence the upcoming Korea-Japan summit scheduled for the 16th.

In response, Leader Joo said, "Although the compensation plan does not satisfy all citizens, it is now time to boldly break through this situation for the future of Northeast Asia and Korea-Japan relations," emphasizing, "The government's current method is the only way to normalize Korea-Japan diplomacy and simultaneously satisfy two conflicting Supreme Court rulings."

Kim Seok-ki, the ruling party secretary of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, also criticized, saying, "The Democratic Party's parliamentary dictatorship with its overwhelming seats never ends," and added, "This time, they are even trying to ruin the government's diplomatic policy for national interest. The Democratic Party is thoroughly ignoring and violating National Assembly procedures, throwing sand in the government's efforts to improve Korea-Japan relations."

Kim further stated, "We can no longer neglect bilateral relations hampered by the forced labor issue, and cooperation on economic security between the two countries is urgently needed to respond to North Korea's nuclear threat and energy issues," and urged, "The Democratic Party is busy disparaging and criticizing the government's efforts to improve Korea-Japan relations without any countermeasures. I hope they exercise restraint and return to the party image of the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration era."

Meanwhile, at the meeting, Leader Joo also called on counterintelligence authorities to 'eradicate pro-North Korean forces.' He said, "I hope there will be no negligence in thoroughly investigating the distribution channels through which anti-government slogans written in North Korean directives have been used as protest slogans and banner phrases by some domestic civic groups, and in eradicating pro-North Korean forces within the country," adding, "While I feel anger at North Korea's ruthless exploitation of national tragedies, I am astonished that domestic forces are blatantly following these instructions."

It is reported that the National Intelligence Service and the National Police Agency, after conducting a search and seizure of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions officials and offices suspected of violating the National Security Act, secured several North Korean directives inciting anti-American protests. The directives reportedly included calls to incite protests demanding the resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol government and slogans such as "The people are dying" during the Itaewon tragedy in October last year.

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