Choo Kyung-ho: "Appointment of Special Inspector is an In-House Matter"... Checking Han Dong-hoon Outside the Assembly

Handonghun "I told the President I would recommend a Special Inspector"
Chukyungho "The highest decision-making in the floor is at the party caucus... I am the chairman"

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, expressed his determination to push forward with the 'special inspector appointment,' but floor leader Chu Kyung-ho put the brakes on it, calling it a "floor issue." He emphasized that the appointment of the special inspector is a matter to be decided within the floor and argued that Han, who is outside the floor, does not have the authority to make the decision. As internal conflicts within the ruling party deepen following the meeting between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Han, the differences in stance between pro-Han and pro-Yoon factions are expected to widen over the special inspector appointment.

Handonghun, leader of the People Power Party, and Chugyeongho, floor leader, are attending the ruling and opposition parties' consultation meeting on measures to stabilize the supply of kimchi-making ingredients held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

After concluding an expanded party officers meeting at the National Assembly on the 23rd, floor leader Chu told reporters, "Han said he would proceed with the practical procedures related to the special inspector appointment," adding, "I also listened carefully at that moment. As you know, the special inspector requires a recommendation process by the National Assembly and is a floor-related matter." He then drew a line, saying, "This is a very important issue, so I will listen to the opinions of related committee members, senior lawmakers, and many other members, and it will be decided through our party caucus."

Earlier, Han emphasized at the expanded party officers meeting, "I told the President during our meeting that we would practically proceed with the special inspector recommendation process," and "We promised the public that we would carry out the special inspector recommendation process." This is interpreted as Han's response to the rejection of his request for measures against First Lady Kim Keon-hee during the meeting with President Yoon. Han's determination to push for the special inspector was not pre-discussed with floor leader Chu, who drew a line by saying, "This is the first time I have heard of this matter."

The special inspector system was introduced to prevent power-type corruption involving the president's relatives and close aides and was established during the Park Geun-hye administration. The opposition has been emphasizing that the Yoon administration must appoint a special inspector, while the ruling party's stance has been that the opposition should first agree to the appointment of directors to the North Korean Human Rights Foundation. However, Han stated that while emphasizing the importance of appointing directors to the North Korean Human Rights Foundation, he plans to prioritize pushing forward with the special inspector appointment.

Floor leader Chu said, "I think it may take considerable time to gather lawmakers' opinions on the special inspector," adding, "Time and procedures are needed to collect the diverse opinions of lawmakers." When asked about the possibility of lawmakers' opinions opposing Han's, he replied, "This is the decision-making process of the National Assembly and a floor matter," adding, "The highest decision-making body on the floor is the party caucus, and its chairperson is the floor leader."

Regarding the negative opinions about President Yoon calling floor leader Chu separately at a dinner with pro-Han faction lawmakers the day before, floor leader Chu said, "Those are individual lawmakers' thoughts, and politicians can have diverse opinions."

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