Park Chan-dae of the Democratic Party: "National Assembly operations at a standstill due to People's Power's obstinacy and tantrums"

"Negotiations on Original Composition Until Weekend... Can't Wait Any Longer"
Urging Witness Attendance Requested by Legislation and Judiciary Committee and Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, shifted the responsibility for the stalled negotiation over the organization of the National Assembly to the ruling party, while expressing his willingness to continue negotiations until the deadline set by Speaker Woo Won-shik. He also reiterated his intention to pressure the government and ruling party, focusing on the Special Prosecutor Act for the investigation into alleged external interference in the death of Corporal Chae (Chae Corporal Special Prosecutor Act) and the three broadcasting laws (amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Agency Act, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act), which President Yoon Seok-yeol had vetoed.

Democratic Party Floor Leader Park Chan-dae is speaking at an emergency party meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 20th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 20th, at an emergency meeting of Democratic Party lawmakers held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Floor Leader Park said, "It has been 40 days since we started negotiations with the People Power Party on the organization of the National Assembly, but the continuous obstinacy and tantrums of the People Power Party have only led to a deadlock." He added, "The People Power Party even filed a constitutional complaint against the organization of the National Assembly, which was processed according to the National Assembly Act, and proposed to alternate the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Steering Committee every year. This irresponsible and absurd double play shows no sincerity."

While accepting Speaker Woo’s proposal to conclude the organization negotiations by this week, Floor Leader Park hinted at monopolizing all 18 standing committees. Speaker Woo had issued a final ultimatum to both parties through a statement the previous day, demanding the conclusion of the organization negotiations by the end of this week. Park said, "We will engage in dialogue and negotiation, but if opinions do not converge, we must acknowledge that operating the National Assembly according to democratic principles is appropriate." He added, "The Democratic Party will wait for the People Power Party’s awakening and change until the deadline requested by the Speaker, but it is clear that we cannot wait any longer than that."

Floor Leader Park reiterated his stance that the ruling party cannot be allowed to take control of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Steering Committee, criticizing President Yoon for his consistent lack of communication. He said, "The Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Steering Committee are essential conditions to reflect the public sentiment from the general election," adding, "They cannot be subjects of bargaining or deal-making." He continued, "Since the beginning of his administration, President Yoon has never treated the opposition as a partner in governance. Instead, he has defined them as enemies to be destroyed and lumped them together as political oppression." He emphasized, "A president with common sense and normal thinking would accept public sentiment, apologize for past governance, and pretend to change, but he does not even pretend to do so."

Park pressured the People Power Party to participate in the organization negotiations. He said, "As the ruling party responsible for national governance, they must criticize and strive to correct the president’s excessive use of veto power and political oppression." He added, "They must realize that if they continue to act only as the president’s rubber stamp and focus solely on shielding President Yoon and First Lady Kim Geon-hee, they have no future." Furthermore, he stated, "Circumstantial evidence surrounding the death of the Marine Corps member is gradually emerging, and issues of broadcasting control and media suppression are also serious." He concluded, "To resolve public suspicions, we hope that all witnesses requested by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee will appear without exception."

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