The Democratic Party's Park Kwang-on to the new National Assembly Speaker: "Hope this becomes an opportunity to restore parliamentary democracy"

The People Power Party commented on the election of Park Kwang-on as the new floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 28th, saying, "We hope this will be an opportunity to restore parliamentary democracy."

Jang Dong-hyuk, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated in a commentary on the same day, "We expect that the election of Floor Leader Park, who has always been known for his gentle personality and rational legislative activities, will be an opportunity to restore parliamentary democracy and improve relations between the ruling and opposition parties in our National Assembly."

Democratic Party of Korea's newly appointed floor leader Park Kwang-on is holding a bouquet at the party members' meeting held on the 28th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, to elect the floor leader. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

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However, concerns were also raised regarding some remarks made by the newly appointed floor leader Park. Spokesperson Jang said, "There are already voices of concern about Floor Leader Park's inaugural remarks," adding, "It is very regrettable as it betrays the expectations of the public who look forward to a new image of the opposition party and the ruling party." In his victory speech, the new floor leader Park expressed hopes that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration would "abandon the governance characterized by arrogance, unilateralism, and dictatorship," and urged to "humbly accept the special investigation laws on the 5 billion Club and First Lady Kim Geon-hee."

Spokesperson Jang further emphasized, "When the ruling and opposition parties unite and the National Assembly cooperates, we can overcome the current crisis facing the Republic of Korea," and stressed, "Operating the National Assembly with 'arrogance, unilateralism, and dictatorship' over contentious bills that require in-depth discussion, as was the case yesterday, is absolutely not the 'cooperative National Assembly' that the public expects."

At the plenary session of the National Assembly the previous day, the Nursing Act and the designation of the 'double special investigations' (Daejang-dong 5 billion Club and First Lady Kim Geon-hee stock manipulation allegations special investigations) as fast-track bills were processed under the leadership of the Democratic Party. The People Power Party, which had opposed the Nursing Act and the double special investigations, protested by leaving the plenary hall and abstaining from the vote.

In response, Spokesperson Jang said, "We hope that the ruling and opposition parties will work together to revive parliamentary democracy and that our National Assembly will fulfill the role entrusted by the people through joint efforts."

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