'No Agenda' Judiciary Committee Plenary Adjourned After 30 Minutes... Opposition: "Why Refuse Question Session?"

Chairperson Choo: "Consultations Incomplete"
Plenary Session Rescheduled for the 18th
Opposition Criticizes "Refusal to Address Allegations of Negotiated Prosecution Withdrawal"

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly held a plenary meeting on the 16th, but declared a recess after just 30 minutes. The People Power Party requested an inquiry with the Board of Audit and Inspection regarding the issue of COVID-19 'foreign matter vaccines', but Choo Mi-ae, Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea), opened the meeting without an agenda, stating that there had been no prior consultation. After a heated exchange over procedural remarks, the committee decided to recess, citing the need for further schedule coordination.

The committee held its plenary meeting at the National Assembly that day. While lawmakers from the People Power Party attended, only Chairperson Choo and Kim Yongmin, the Democratic Party’s chief secretary on the committee, were present from the Democratic Party.

On the 6th, at the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly, Choo Mi-ae, Chairperson of the committee, declared a recess. The meeting was held without a confirmed agenda as the People Power Party requested an inquiry into issues related to COVID-19 vaccine side effects, but no agreement was reached between the ruling and opposition parties. Yonhap News

Nah Kyungwon, a member of the People Power Party, stated, "They say the meeting was held without a confirmed agenda due to a lack of schedule coordination between the two parties’ secretaries, but as the de facto secretary, I repeatedly discussed this matter with Assemblyman Kim Yongmin and agreed to it." She went on to say, "The victims of the COVID-19 vaccine were affected due to the government's mandatory vaccination," and criticized, "While the Democratic Party even held a hearing for the victims of the Itaewon disaster, ignoring the victims of COVID-19 is a politically motivated stance."

Kwak Gyutaek, another lawmaker from the People Power Party, said, "There is not just one or two issues that the committee needs to hold an inquiry about," and criticized, "Regarding the allegations of negotiations at high levels over the withdrawal of prosecution against President Lee Jaemyung and the supplementary investigation powers of the prosecution, it is most likely that the Minister of Justice was contacted, but the committee is not holding an inquiry." He further stated, "When it comes to political offensives, they act so diligently, but when an inquiry is truly needed, why is it not being convened? The committee chairperson should fulfill their responsibilities properly."

Assemblyman Kim Yongmin said, "I coordinated the schedule with Assemblywoman Nah, but our schedules simply did not align." He further explained, "Article 49 of the National Assembly Act does not state that the chairperson must accept the coordination between secretaries. The coordination between the chairperson and the secretaries regarding the inquiry request has not been completed." Regarding the opposition party's citation of the Board of Audit and Inspection’s findings to raise issues with the vaccination process, he said, "It seems as if you trust the Board’s results, but in that case, the Health and Welfare Committee has already held an inquiry on this matter. If you are interested in the details, you should inquire with the Health and Welfare Committee."

Chairperson Choo pointed out, "It appears that the People Power Party members want officials from the Board of Audit and Inspection to attend. If that is the case, further negotiations between the negotiation groups are necessary regarding the schedule and the agencies to be called." She added, "Since the Board of Audit and Inspection is not present anyway, proceeding with the meeting would only lead to unnecessary arguments." She recessed the meeting after announcing that a plenary session of the committee would be convened on the 18th, citing the need for schedule coordination.

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