On the 1st, members of the National Assembly who attended the regular session opening ceremony and the plenary session wearing hanbok shook hands with each other after the plenary session ended. Photo by Yonhap News
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Hanjungae, the Policy Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea (center), Baek Haeryun (left), and Baek Seunga attended the regular session opening ceremony at the National Assembly on the 1st wearing hanbok and are taking a selfie with a mobile phone. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
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At the opening ceremony of the 429th regular session of the National Assembly, Speaker Woo Wonshik and the members wearing hanbok are taking a commemorative photo on the 1st at the main plenary hall of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
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Mo Kyungjong, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is seen interacting with lawmakers while dressed as the Grim Reaper from K-Pop Demon Hunters at the regular session opening ceremony held at the National Assembly main hall in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News
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Members of the People Power Party are attending the regular session opening ceremony at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
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Kwon Seon-dong, a member of the People Power Party, is seated attending the opening ceremony of the 429th regular session of the National Assembly held on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News
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Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is deep in thought while attending the regular National Assembly opening ceremony on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
원본보기 아이콘On September 1, lawmakers from the People Power Party attended the opening ceremony of the regular session of the National Assembly wearing black mourning clothes as a group. Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "This is a renewed determination to stand against the authoritarian politics of the Lee Jaemyung administration, which is eradicating parliamentary democracy."
Party leadership, including Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, and other lawmakers entered the main chamber of the National Assembly that afternoon dressed in black suits, black ties, and condolence ribbons. The ribbons were inscribed with the phrase "Condolences for Parliamentary Democracy."
Previously, National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik had suggested that lawmakers wear hanbok to the opening ceremony, but the People Power Party rejected the proposal and decided as a party to wear mourning clothes instead.
At a general meeting of lawmakers held before the plenary session, Floor Leader Song stated, "The Democratic Party's legislative monopoly, which began with the fast-track (expedited bill processing) in 2019, has now become an overt majority-party dictatorship. The majority party tramples on minority party nominees as if conducting ideological screening, and unilaterally passed the Labor Union Act and Commercial Act even as companies pleaded in opposition."
Song further commented, "On the 10th, the plenary session schedule will reportedly proceed with the approval of the arrest motion for our party's Kwon Seondong, timed to coincide with the opposition party's negotiation group leader's speech. For the Lee Jaemyung administration, which wields the power of the majority party in one hand and the sword of a special prosecutor in the other, the term 'dictatorship' is no longer just political rhetoric but the essence of the situation."
Park Sumin, a People Power Party lawmaker, told reporters after the general meeting, "We see laws that are detrimental to various companies being unilaterally passed, the appointment of human rights commissioners being handled solely by the Democratic Party in violation of constitutional practices, and even the extension of a special prosecutor law to pursue non-existent crimes. This is not a situation for laughter or enjoyment, but rather a recognition that the constitutional order and parliamentary democracy of the Republic of Korea are in serious crisis."
She added, "The Democratic Party seems to be in a celebratory mood," explaining, "There is a clear difference in how each side perceives the situation." Regarding further protests such as rallies, Park stated, "Since we participated in the opening ceremony wearing condolence ribbons, I believe our position has been clearly communicated."
