Jang Donghyuk Meets Woo Wonsik: "Regret Over National Assembly Raids... Creating an Ineffective Opposition"

Jang Donghyuk Protests Special Investigation Team's Raids
Speaker Woo Wonsik Emphasizes Principle of Voluntary Submission
Concerns Raised Over Excessive Raids on Opposition Offices

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, met with Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Wonsik on September 2 and protested that the attempt by the special investigation team on the rebellion case to conduct a search and seizure of Assemblyman Choo Kyungho's residence and office, as well as the People Power Party's floor leader's office and the party's parliamentary administrative office, should be stopped.

During his meeting with Speaker Woo in the morning at the Speaker’s office, Jang criticized the special investigation team's search and seizure of Assemblyman Choo’s residence and offices, stating, “Conducting search and seizures not only at his home but also at his local office, his office in the National Assembly, and even the parliamentary administrative office is excessively overreaching, even when considering the necessity of the investigation.”

Woo Wonsik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is giving a welcoming speech on the 2nd at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, during a visit from Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party. Photo by Yonhap News

The special investigation team, which is probing allegations of rebellion and foreign collusion related to the December 3 Martial Law, carried out search and seizures on this day at Assemblyman Choo’s residence and local office, as he is suspected of obstructing the vote on the National Assembly’s resolution to lift martial law. Search and seizures were also underway at the People Power Party’s floor leader’s office and Assemblywoman Jo Jiyeon’s office within the National Assembly.

Jang stated, “It is very regrettable that excessive search and seizures are being conducted as soon as the regular session of the National Assembly begins. The opposition should be able to fully prepare for the parliamentary audit and properly point out problems in order to keep the ruling party and the government in check, as emphasized by the Speaker. I am concerned whether it will be possible to create a productive National Assembly. In the end, I wonder if this is not an attempt to render the opposition unable to do its work.”

In response, Speaker Woo dismissed the concerns, saying, “There is fundamentally no way to block an investigation. If there are elements necessary for the investigation, we will cooperate.” He added, “It was the same when the Democratic Party was the opposition, and now the People Power Party is the opposition, but I have always made the principle clear: when conducting a search and seizure in the National Assembly, the prosecution, the special investigation team, and the parties involved must consult and voluntary submission should be the principle.”

He further stated, “It is not the role of the Speaker of the National Assembly to intervene and stop an investigation. I am simply acting in accordance with the established principles.”

Regarding his attendance at China’s Victory Day commemoration event, Speaker Woo said, “It would have been better if the People Power Party had also attended and engaged in dialogue, but it is unfortunate that you decided not to go. If possible, I hope you can join us.”

Jang added, “There should be a different standard for search and seizures of the standing committee chair’s office and, at the very least, the opposition floor leader’s office. I deeply regret that the investigation is being conducted in a manner that feels like coercion to submit materials voluntarily.”

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