Opposition Calls for National Assembly Investigation into Korea-Japan Summit, Ruling Party Says It's Not a 'National Investigation Feeling'

""Even if the Ruling Party refuses, the Opposition will join hands for swift consultation"
Summit dealing with national secrets... National audit outcome uncertain

The opposition party has announced that it is considering pushing for a parliamentary inquiry into the results of the Korea-Japan summit, while the ruling party has opposed this, stating that the outcomes of the summit are not subject to such an investigation. The Democratic Party has expressed its intention to quickly coordinate with other opposition parties if the People Power Party refuses to cooperate.

According to current laws, the Democratic Party, which holds a majority of seats, can proceed with a parliamentary inquiry without the cooperation of the People Power Party. However, there are concerns that it would be difficult to handle the contents of the summit, which include diplomatic secrets between countries, in a parliamentary inquiry.

The Democratic Party is emphasizing the push for a parliamentary inquiry into the Korea-Japan summit and is taking an offensive stance. On the morning of the 22nd, Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, proposed at the Supreme Council meeting that "a parliamentary investigation is inevitable to clarify the suspicions and responsibilities surrounding the humiliating and abnormal summit of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration." Park also warned, "We propose to all parties to hold a joint hearing involving relevant standing committees along with the parliamentary inquiry as soon as possible, and if the People Power Party refuses, we will promptly discuss the direction of the push with other opposition parties."

Supreme Council member Ko Min-jung also stated, "Even though the summit was a closed-door meeting, it will inevitably be made public later," and added, "If President Yoon Seok-yeol conveyed any corresponding response to the Japanese side that differs from my assumptions, I hope he will disclose the content of that statement even now."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The People Power Party immediately rebutted, saying, "The government's diplomatic decision is not subject to a parliamentary inquiry." Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters at the National Assembly that day, "We cannot continue to ignore and avoid our neighbor Japan forever. This is a process of looking at the long flow of history and finding a mutually beneficial path for both countries," adding, "If we wait a little, President Yoon Seok-yeol’s efforts to normalize Korea-Japan diplomacy will be evaluated by history, and there will be an assessment that it was well done."

Senior spokesperson Yoo Sang-beom issued a statement that day, criticizing, "The Democratic Party is unleashing all threats it can use with its overwhelming seats, such as 'impeachment of the president and foreign minister' and 'parliamentary inquiry,'" and added, "At this level, it is a one-party dictatorship, and the party should be called the 'Together Dictatorship Party.'"

The Democratic Party maintains its position to proceed with the parliamentary inquiry together with other opposition parties even if the People Power Party refuses.

Holding 169 seats, the Democratic Party can conduct a parliamentary inquiry on its own. According to the 'Act on Inspection and Investigation of State Affairs,' a parliamentary inquiry can be conducted through special committees or standing committees when requested by at least one-quarter of the total members of the National Assembly. In the case of the parliamentary inquiry into the October 29 Itaewon tragedy, the Democratic Party and the Justice Party jointly submitted a request for the inquiry.

However, some view that it will not be easy to proceed with a parliamentary inquiry on this matter. Diplomatic issues between countries often involve state secrets, and if disclosed through a parliamentary inquiry, there may be matters that could harm national interests.

Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Sang-ho appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that day and said, "I understand that this diplomacy itself is a disaster and problematic," but added, "It is not easy to conduct a parliamentary inquiry that discloses all diplomatic secrets." He continued, "Unless a hearing is held at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee level and conducted in both public and closed sessions, it will be difficult to proceed with a parliamentary inquiry that discloses everything."

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