US Eavesdropping Scandal and Jeong Sunshin Hearing... Ruling and Opposition Parties Face Minefields in Each Standing Committee

The ruling and opposition parties are expected to engage in fierce battles in each standing committee around the plenary session of the National Assembly scheduled for the 13th. Not only bills such as the Grain Management Act amendment, the Nursing Act, and the Medical Service Act, but also issues like the recent allegations of wiretapping by the U.S. presidential office, Japan's diplomatic white paper issue, and the school violence controversy involving lawyer Jeong Soon-shin's son are expected to be contested in the relevant standing committees, making the committees a political minefield through the latter half of this week.

The National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee will focus on discussing allegations that U.S. intelligence agencies wiretapped the Yongsan presidential office during its plenary meeting on the afternoon of the 12th. Regarding wiretapping, not only the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee but also the Intelligence Committee are scheduled to convene, and the Defense Committee is currently under negotiation between the ruling and opposition parties for a meeting. The Democratic Party's position is to conduct a thorough fact-finding investigation at the National Assembly level regarding the substance of the wiretapping, and if proven true, to demand prevention of recurrence and an apology from the U.S. government.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the expanded executive meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 12th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

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Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, said at the expanded executive meeting that morning, "The core values of an alliance are mutual respect and trust," adding, "While we should unite for common interests, a mature alliance firmly points out mistakes." He then criticized the government, saying, "The allegations of wiretapping by U.S. intelligence agencies on the presidential office have become widespread, but the government is focusing only on suppressing reasonable questions rather than clarifying the suspicions." He insisted, "The government must thoroughly investigate the substance of the wiretapping allegations and, if true, must secure an official apology and a promise of non-recurrence from the U.S. government." Lee also added, "The Democratic Party will expedite fact-finding at the National Assembly level" and "will actively consider legislative measures to strengthen the presidential office's security."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that it is communicating closely with the United States regarding the wiretapping controversy. Park Jin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who attended the largest pro-Yoon faction meeting 'People's Sympathy' of the People Power Party held at the National Assembly that morning, told reporters after his lecture, "Although there have been reports in the media and announcements from the presidential office about the wiretapping by U.S. intelligence agencies at Yongsan presidential office, a significant number of documents are assessed to be fabricated." Minister Park added, "The U.S. government is currently investigating the facts, and once confirmed, information will be shared between Korea and the U.S."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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At the plenary session on the 13th, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to be in a tense standoff over the re-vote on the Grain Management Act amendment. The Democratic Party has decided to push for a re-vote on the amendment as a party stance, while the People Power Party has also decided as a party stance to reject it if re-voted, indicating an uncompromising confrontation. Attention is also focused on contentious bills such as the Nursing Act and Medical Service Act, which will be discussed on the same day. The Democratic Party is opposing the mediation proposal presented by the ruling party the previous day.

The People Power Party and the government proposed a mediation plan that changes the name of the Nursing Act bill to the "Act on the Treatment of Nurses, etc." and retains nursing-related work provisions within the existing Medical Service Act. Regarding the Medical Service Act amendment, they proposed a revision specifying crimes warranting revocation of medical licenses from "all crimes" to "medical-related crimes, sex crimes, and violent crimes."

However, Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, clearly opposed this at a meeting that morning, stating, "The Democratic Party will handle the re-vote on the Grain Management Act for rice price stabilization and food self-sufficiency, along with the Nursing Act and Medical Service Act and other livelihood bills, according to principles at tomorrow's plenary session." Park criticized, "The belated mediation proposal presented by the government and ruling party yesterday is merely an attempt to nullify bills that were agreed upon by both parties in the standing committee," adding, "It only repackages matters that were already reviewed during bill examination and inter-party negotiations as if they were slightly changed." He continued, "Suddenly bringing up a meaningless mediation proposal right before the plenary session is unacceptable," and said, "The Democratic Party will definitely process the relevant livelihood bills at the plenary session."

On the 14th, the National Assembly's Education Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing related to school violence involving lawyer Jeong Soon-shin's son. The hearing was disrupted on the 31st of last month when Jeong, the party involved, submitted a letter of absence and did not attend. It is reported that Jeong has again submitted a letter of absence for the hearing scheduled on the 14th. A Democratic Party lawmaker's office affiliated with the Education Committee said, "Jeong Soon-shin submitted a letter of absence for the hearing scheduled on the 14th," adding, "Further discussion is needed regarding future responses related to this."

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