Ruling Party Leadership Targets Opposition on 'Livelihood Support Fund': "Dispositive Law, Abuse of Legislative Power... Exercise of Authority Must Be Restrained"

National Assembly Legislative Power Abuse Prevention Forum Held
Yoon Jae-ok "Emphasizing Restrained Exercise of Power, Concession, and Compromise"
Choo Kyung-ho "Legislative Power Must Be Used for People's Happiness"
Hwang Woo-yeo "It Could Overturn the Constitutional System"

Former and current leaders of the People Power Party criticized the Democratic Party of Korea on the 4th for pursuing dispositive legislation, such as the Livelihood Recovery Support Fund, which bypasses the executive branch, calling it an act that exceeds the authority of the legislative branch.

Yoon Jae-ok, a former floor leader, held a policy forum titled "Policy Forum to Prevent Abuse of Legislative Power by the National Assembly: What Is the Problem with Dispositive Legislation?" at the National Assembly that afternoon. Dispositive legislation refers to laws that directly impose rights or obligations on the people through parliamentary legislation without mediation by administrative execution or judicial adjudication.

Yoon said, "Dispositive legislation was an issue only dealt with in administrative law textbooks about 40 years ago, so I never imagined it would become a prominent issue in the National Assembly." He added, "Although democracy operates on the principle of majority rule, we have reached a serious situation where we must consider how to prevent tyranny or oppression by the majority. This is crucial to protecting democracy and parliamentary politics." He explained the background of holding the seminar. He further emphasized, "To restore parliamentary politics, even if there is a large number, power must be exercised with restraint, and restoration of parliamentary politics through concession and compromise is what the people expect from the National Assembly at this point."

Regarding the Livelihood Recovery Support Fund promoted by the Democratic Party, he also pointed out, "There is serious concern about whether it is appropriate to do this, even infringing on the government's budget formulation authority, including the amount and timing."

Hwang Woo-yeo, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party (front row, from left), Representative Yoon Jae-ok, Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho, and Bang Ki-seon, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, are attending the policy forum "Dispositive Laws, What Is the Problem?" held on the afternoon of the 4th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building to prevent abuse of legislative power by the National Assembly, saluting the national flag. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, also targeted the ruling party in his congratulatory remarks, saying, "At one time, the administrative power was excessive, and there were concerns that it was being abused and too strong, affecting the legislative and judicial branches. Recently, however, as political power has become excessive, abuse of legislative power seems to be raised." He expressed concern, saying, "Of course, the National Assembly is a place where we strive for the happiness and future development of the nation and its people through legislation, but that must be properly used to achieve the intended goals."

Hwang Woo-yeo, emergency response committee chairman, mentioned that the separation of powers must be strictly observed and warned, "If the National Assembly directly legislates on dispositions that should be handled under administrative authority, the constitutional system will be overturned." He added, "When one party (the Democratic Party) declares that they will do this, we cannot help but be on alert. A movement to uphold democracy, especially parliamentary democracy and constitutional protection, is approaching."

Na Kyung-won, considered one of the next party leadership candidates, also attended this seminar and pointed out, "(The Democratic Party) is pushing for a special prosecutor law related to the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, trying to neutralize administrative authority, paralyze the judiciary, and nullify investigative authority, seemingly trying to do whatever they want." The Democratic Party proposed the special prosecutor law the day before the first trial ruling on the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, demanding an investigation into whether false testimony was coerced and conveniences were provided during the investigation of the case.

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