Jamboree Current Issue Inquiry Leisure Committee 'Disruption'... Farce of Ministers Being Sought Around

People Power Party Holds Solo Session Amid Government Absence
Separate Resolution Demanding Minister Kim Hyun-sook's Attendance

The full session of the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee to determine responsibility for the chaotic operation of the Saemangeum World Jamboree was disrupted due to the absence of Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook and ruling party lawmakers. The committee adopted a separate attendance request to pressure Minister Kim to appear.

On the 25th, seats of ruling party lawmakers were empty at the National Assembly's Gender and Family Committee plenary session. Lawmakers from the People Power Party did not attend. Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook was absent. Signs demanding an investigation into the cause of the Jamboree were attached to the seats of opposition lawmakers.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Gender Equality and Family Committee held a full session on the 25th, but only opposition party lawmakers attended, turning the meeting into a forum to criticize the government and ruling party.

Shin Hyun-young, the Democratic Party's secretary of the committee, said, "We did our best to negotiate with the People Power Party until late last night, but the ruling party ultimately did not attend, and I regret that the Jamboree-related questioning ended in disruption." She added, "Except for the head of the security office, we proposed attendance for all those required to appear and tried to normalize the urgent questioning on the Jamboree today, but the People Power Party did not show a responsible attitude in negotiations."

Kwon In-sook, chairwoman of the Gender Equality and Family Committee from the Democratic Party, said, "I apologize to the public for the reality that Minister Kim is currently at the site but has not appeared, using the ruling party's excuse of witness negotiations." Opposition party committee members even went around looking for Minister Kim, resulting in a farcical situation.

Chairwoman Kwon In-sook of the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee and others headed to the waiting room on the morning of the 25th at the National Assembly to find Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook, who was absent from the full committee meeting. Chairwoman Kwon and others said that although Minister Kim came to the National Assembly, she did not attend the standing committee, so they searched the waiting room and other places. [Image source=Yonhap News]

It was reported that Minister Kim came to the National Assembly that day but did not appear at the committee meeting. Through a text message, Minister Kim stated, "I have never notified of my absence from the Gender Equality and Family Committee today, and since there was no agreement on witnesses, the ruling party's attendance was not confirmed. I am currently waiting to attend at the National Assembly."

To pressure the minister's attendance, the committee passed a separate attendance request that day, demanding Minister Kim's appearance.

Some lawmakers called for a motion to dismiss Minister Kim at the committee level or demanded a hearing. Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae raised his voice, saying, "A motion to dismiss the minister should be made at the committee level." Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party argued, "The Gender Equality and Family Committee should pass a resolution to hold a hearing to clarify the mismanagement surrounding the Jamboree."

Regarding the meeting, proposals were made ranging from holding the meeting targeting former Jeollabuk-do Governor Kim Kwan-young and Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yoon-duk, who co-chaired the Jamboree, to suggestions not to proceed with the agenda to avoid setting a precedent for failing to conduct a proper meeting.

On the 25th, a phrase calling for joint investigation of the Jamboree cause was attached to the seats of opposition party members at the National Assembly's Women and Family Committee plenary session. People Power Party members did not attend. Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook was absent.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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