[Full Text] Lee In-young "Will Revive Economy Stagnated by COVID-19... Apologize for Causing Concern over Im Mi-ri Controversy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Lee In-young, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized the efforts of the government and ruling party to overcome the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic during the negotiation group representative speech at the National Assembly on the 18th, stating, "We will revive the vitality of the common people's economy."

On the same day, Floor Leader Lee diagnosed, "As epidemiological investigations and treatment experiences accumulate, fear of COVID-19 at quarantine sites is subsiding," but he stressed, "Fear of infectious diseases should not lead to economic contraction."

He especially apologized regarding the controversy over the accusation of Professor Im Miri of Korea University, saying, "We will not ignore the critical voices of the people directed at our Democratic Party."

The following is the full text of Floor Leader Lee's speech.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

"Let the National Assembly join in the all-out response to COVID-19 and revitalization of the people's economy."

1. The Democratic Party will definitely eradicate COVID-19 and restore the vitality of the people's economy.

Respected citizens!

Overseas compatriots!

Speaker Moon Hee-sang and senior fellow lawmakers!

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and cabinet members!

I am Lee In-young, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Over the past month, our people have had to endure anxiety and fear due to COVID-19.

Fear of second and third infections has emptied the streets, and a cold wave has hit people's livelihoods.

Although confirmed cases continue and the situation remains tense, hopeful news is also coming.

Thanks to the swift and systematic response of our quarantine authorities,

nine people have safely been declared fully recovered,

and quarantined residents from Wuhan have begun returning home.

As epidemiological investigations and treatment experiences accumulate,

fear of COVID-19 at quarantine sites is subsiding.

With the government's success in developing independent diagnostic kits,

daily testing capacity has dramatically increased.

The government now includes those who have not traveled abroad and general pneumonia patients in the testing targets,

operating a more thorough quarantine network.

Our society seems to have moved from the extreme tension seen at the early stage of the outbreak

to a somewhat manageable situation.

International organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO)

have recognized our top-level quarantine capabilities,

and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rated South Korea as Level 1 in infectious disease safety.

We have already demonstrated disaster prevention capabilities that the world has noted

in several national disasters during the Moon Jae-in administration, such as the Gangwon wildfire, Pohang earthquake, and African swine fever.

If we successfully respond to this COVID-19 situation as well,

we will be firmly established as an advanced quarantine powerhouse.

Respected citizens!

Fear of infectious diseases must not lead to economic contraction.

Many citizens are complaining,

"It's already difficult, and the COVID-19 situation makes it even harder."

Daycare center directors worry about the reduced number of children attending,

and restaurant owners lament,

"Having no customers is scarier than the virus."

More people are considering temporary closures or business shutdowns.

To alleviate sudden damages even a little,

the Democratic Party and government are working tirelessly.

Immediately, for small and medium enterprises and small business owners in crisis,

from the 13th, 45 billion won in management stabilization funds and 205 billion won in special guarantees

have begun to be supplied.

Also, the interest rate on emergency management stabilization funds will be lowered from 2.65% to 2.15%,

and the yellow umbrella mutual aid loan interest rate from 3.4% to 2.9%,

each reduced by up to 0.5 percentage points,

to reduce financial burdens on small business owners and extend maturities.

Tax support for small and medium enterprises and self-employed persons affected by COVID-19 has also begun.

The filing and payment deadlines for corporate tax and value-added tax have been extended up to nine months,

and collection actions and tax audits will be deferred.

To support the tourism industry affected by COVID-19,

property tax reductions for lodging facilities through local council resolutions will also be pursued.

Financial support has already started.

On the 7th, the government announced a 2 trillion won financial support plan for COVID-19 damage countermeasures,

and has prepared a universal support program worth 14.7 trillion won to resolve funding difficulties for companies and small business owners.

The Financial Supervisory Service has ensured that frontline financial institutions can actively support

by exempting responsible personnel from liability in cases without intentional or gross negligence.

Now, along with quarantine,

we must carefully manage the contracted people's economy.

To protect the people's economy from COVID-19,

the government is making active efforts,

and when citizens return to daily life, problems will be resolved.

The Democratic Party will definitely eradicate the coronavirus

and revive the vitality of the depressed common people's economy.

2. Let's make the February National Assembly focus on people's livelihoods.

Respected citizens!

Speaker Moon Hee-sang and senior fellow lawmakers!

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and cabinet members!

The 20th National Assembly is about to end.

However, the report card of the 20th National Assembly is disappointing.

There have been as many as twenty boycotts of the National Assembly,

and bipartisan agreements have been broken seven times in the past year.

The 19th National Assembly held plenary sessions for a total of 836 hours over 183 days,

but the 20th National Assembly only 506 hours over 150 days.

The bill passage rate was 58% in the 17th, 55% in the 18th, and 45% in the 19th,

but only 34% in the 20th National Assembly.

Before blaming anyone, we will reflect on ourselves.

From prosecutorial reform, housing price stabilization,

to the recent controversy surrounding Professor Im Miri,

we will not ignore the critical voices of the people directed at our Democratic Party.

We also know well that communicating with the people solely based on our internal convictions

cannot gain broad public consent.

The Democratic Party, as the ruling party, takes seriously the people's voices that we should aim for higher values

and embrace more inclusively.

We will always be vigilant, remembering that at any moment, we too can be seen as vested interests

and appear closed off in the eyes of the people.

In this regard, as the floor leader of the ruling party,

I apologize for causing concern,

and promise to focus humbly and modestly on people's livelihoods.

In the remaining time of the National Assembly,

the Democratic Party will take the lead and do its utmost

to improve even one aspect of the people's lives.

▲ Let's at least do this for the people's livelihoods that have been left undone.

Recently, Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, promised

to eliminate gentrification damage and reduce expensive rent burdens to merchants in Jongno who complain about poor business.

Let's keep that promise in the February National Assembly.

Recently, a heartwarming story of a 'good landlord' in Jeonju lowering rent by 20% was introduced.

We hope this leads to a wave of more good landlords.

Coincidentally, the President also instructed to devise special support measures for good rental businesses.

In line with this, the National Assembly must pass the 「Regional Commercial District Win-Win Development Act」.

The 「Commercial Building Lease Protection Act」 and the 「Regional Commercial District Win-Win Development Act」

were stalled for nearly two years, and only after the so-called 'Seochon Palace Jokbal Incident' in 2018, where a tenant swung a hammer at a landlord,

did the 「Commercial Building Lease Protection Act」 barely pass the National Assembly.

The 「Regional Commercial District Win-Win Development Act」 is still blocked by the opposition United Future Party.

We hope the 「Regional Commercial District Win-Win Development Act」 will pass with the cooperation of the United Future Party in this National Assembly.

At the end of last year,

parents who lost their children visited the National Assembly and pleaded tearfully.

They are the parents of Min-sik, Hae-in, Tae-ho, Yu-chan, and Ha-jun.

Seeing them kneel in the National Assembly to say, "Please prevent our children from dying in traffic accidents anymore,"

I was so ashamed I could not raise my head.

Among our people, there were sighs saying, "The National Assembly is shameful."

Among the laws protecting children, only the Min-sik Law and Ha-jun Law have passed.

We hope the Hae-in Law and Tae-ho and Yu-chan Law will also pass in this National Assembly.

People are dying!

Victims' families, including those affected by the Brothers Home incident caused by unjust measures of past governments,

also came to the National Assembly and knelt down, crying out.

However, despite the life-risking appeal of Brothers Home survivor Choi Seung-woo, who fasted for 24 days on the roof of the National Assembly subway station in midwinter,

the Past Affairs Act ultimately did not pass the National Assembly.

Urgent people's livelihood bills remain piled up in the 20th National Assembly.

Above all, the passage of the four quarantine laws, including the 「Quarantine Act」, 「Infectious Disease Prevention Act」, 「Medical Service Act」, and 「Public Medical University Act」, is urgent.

Other laws such as the 「Special Act on Fine Dust Management」 and the 「Humidifier Disinfectant Damage Relief Act」 have also been waiting too long for plenary passage.

The 「Financial Consumer Protection Act」 to prevent financial consumer damage and provide post-relief,

the 「State Property Act」 to expand living SOC,

the 「Foreign Trade Act」 to overcome Japan's export regulations,

the 「Small Business Protection Act」 and

the 「Large and Small Business Win-Win Cooperation Act」, 「Fair Trade in Agency Transactions Act」,

the 「Fair Trade in Subcontracting Transactions Act」, the 「Software Industry Promotion Act」,

and the 「National Informatization Basic Act」 are also urgent bills.

Let's amend the long-delayed 「Local Autonomy Act」 and resolve the reinstatement of dismissed public officials from a humanitarian perspective.

Let's achieve a successful conclusion of the 20th National Assembly by collectively handling people's livelihood legislation.

Before the 20th National Assembly ends,

let's reach an extraordinary bipartisan agreement to process all pending people's livelihood bills.

We request the opposition party's decision.

3. We must seize the golden opportunity for economic recovery.

Respected citizens!

Speaker Moon Hee-sang and senior fellow lawmakers!

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and cabinet members!

Last year, the global economy experienced an unprecedented simultaneous downturn.

The main causes were the US-China trade dispute, Brexit, the Hong Kong situation, and Korea-Japan trade conflicts.

90% of the global economy declined simultaneously,

and the growth rate of world trade volume plummeted.

To respond to this situation,

we pursued expansionary fiscal policies as recommended by international organizations such as the IMF and World Bank.

Since private sector vitality was lacking,

we firmly judged that fiscal policy should serve as a primer for the economy and jobs.

The biggest risk factor for our economy now

is the downward pressure on the economy caused by COVID-19.

Compared to the SARS outbreak in 2003,

China's share of the global economy has risen sharply from 8% to 19%,

and South Korea's exports to China have nearly quadrupled from 35.1 billion dollars to 136.2 billion dollars during this period.

The damage COVID-19 will cause to the global and Korean economies

is clearly much greater than in 2003.

The government decided to spend 100 billion won in contingency funds at today's Cabinet meeting.

Additionally, please calculate the required budget for each item to establish countermeasures for COVID-19 quarantine and economic damage,

and submit it to the National Assembly.

▲ We will create jobs through innovation.

Job expansion is the Moon Jae-in administration's most focused national task.

Last year, the number of jobs increased by 301,000,

more than double the initial target of 150,000.

The employment rate rose and the unemployment rate fell,

improving all three major job indicators.

The Democratic Party and government will not be complacent,

and will make every effort to create additional jobs.

Needless to say,

the main actors in job creation are private companies.

We will strive to enhance corporate vitality so that quality jobs are created in the private sector.

The Democratic Party will work closely with companies and push for institutional reforms

to enable companies to make new investments worth 100 trillion won this year.

Especially, the Data 3 Laws, long-awaited by the data industry, finance, and venture sectors, passed the National Assembly on January 9.

We will provide all policy support so that this can be a new turning point for creating new industries in the fields of Data, Network, and Artificial Intelligence (DNA).

We will ensure that the opinions of companies and experts are maximally reflected

in the enactment and enforcement of enforcement ordinances so that many quality jobs for future generations can be created in new industries.

Meanwhile, despite quantitative and qualitative improvements in jobs last year,

job creation for people in their 40s in manufacturing was insufficient.

This was due to a decrease in the population of people in their 40s caused by demographic changes,

but fundamentally, it was because our manufacturing industry has entered a mature stage,

making rapid growth as in the past difficult.

Nevertheless, the Democratic Party will strive to upgrade manufacturing and create more jobs

through focused investment in three new industries: system semiconductors, bio, and future cars.

First, the government will allocate 3 trillion won in R&D budgets to the three new industry sectors

to serve as a primer for creating a new industrial ecosystem,

and will also work on regulatory reforms such as regulatory sandboxes

to accelerate new economic growth and job creation.

▲ We will open a new era of win-win job creation.

Next, we will focus more on promoting win-win job projects.

The win-win job project is a Korean-style job cooperation model where labor, management, civil society, and government cooperate

to create new jobs.

Workers cooperate for fair wages and stable labor-management relations,

companies create jobs through investment and improve relationships between primary and subcontractors,

the private sector creates a favorable environment for the project, and

the government supports with tax and infrastructure.

Starting with the Gwangju-type job for compact car manufacturing in January last year,

it continued with the Miryang-type job creating an eco-friendly root industry complex,

Daegu-type job revitalizing the auto parts industry,

Gumi-type job producing secondary batteries,

Hoengseong-type job centered on the e-mobility production cooperative,

and Gunsan-type job for a mid-sized and venture electric vehicle cluster.

This year, on February 6,

the Busan-type job agreement was concluded, attracting overseas investment in the future electric vehicle parts industry.

Through these seven win-win job projects,

a total investment of 2.9 trillion won and 9,800 direct jobs are expected.

We also expect significant indirect employment creation and regional economic stimulation effects.

Especially, with the passage of the 「Special Act on National Balanced Development」 on January 9,

systematic support for regional win-win job projects will begin in earnest.

Based on this, the Democratic Party will work harder this year to successfully launch win-win job projects

in several regions such as Goesan in Chungbuk, Sinan in Jeonnam, Iksan in Jeonbuk, and Pohang in Gyeongbuk.

We ask for the interest and support of businesspeople, workers, and local communities.

▲ It is time for a major shift in perception regarding senior jobs.

Respected citizens!

Some criticize that senior jobs have increased excessively.

Some even say they are bad jobs created by public funds,

and call them "tax-eating hippos."

However, leaving senior jobs solely to private companies is irresponsible.

We are confident that senior job projects have triple benefits.

First, considering rapid aging and the highest elderly poverty rate among OECD countries,

the government increasing seniors' income through job projects is the best welfare.

Second, according to research by the Korea Senior Human Resources Development Institute,

seniors participating in jobs feel rewarded and become healthier.

Third, the knowledge and experience seniors have gained through long economic activities

will not be wasted but utilized through job projects and passed on to the next generation,

becoming a great asset to our economy.

It is time to move away from the futile debate belittling senior jobs.

Expanding senior jobs is a filial piety project to be blessed.

Let the National Assembly join in showing filial piety to seniors.

We ask for active cooperation from the opposition party.

▲ We will work hard for the development of self-employment.

As I have said several times,

self-employed and small business owners are the backbone of our economy.

They are also very important in job creation.

The Democratic Party will do its utmost to support small self-employed and small business owners this year.

First, the special guarantee amount through regional credit guarantee foundations

has been significantly increased from 20 trillion won to 25 trillion won.

We will cooperate with local governments to provide additional guarantee benefits to 200,000 self-employed people.

For self-employed and small business owners, nothing is more precious than sales expansion.

The Democratic Party will double the size of alleyway commercial district exclusive gift certificates, such as Onnuri gift certificates and local love gift certificates,

from 5.5 trillion won this year to 10.5 trillion won by 2024.

We will also expand support for online store entry for small business owners, including internet shopping malls and TV home shopping.

We will make Zero Pay more convenient and dramatically expand affiliated stores to 2 million by 2024,

significantly reducing card fee burdens.

To revitalize local commercial districts,

we will boldly expand the local commercial district renaissance project.

We will foster specialized individual specialized shopping districts in all cities, counties, and districts,

and establish a 'commercial district development dedicated organization' to support them.

We will also promote tax support for self-employed people.

The simplified VAT taxation threshold for small self-employed has been fixed at 48 million won since 2000.

Considering 20 years of economic scale expansion and inflation,

we will discuss with the government to significantly raise the threshold

to reduce tax burdens, tax invoice issuance, and bookkeeping administrative costs for small self-employed.

Unlike the past when cash transactions were common,

the credit card usage rate has reached 79.1%,

so raising the simplified taxation threshold is unlikely to cause significant side effects.

We urge the government to prepare active countermeasures.

4. We will make South Korea competitive.

▲ We will open an era of substantial balanced development.

Respected citizens!

Speaker Moon Hee-sang and senior fellow lawmakers!

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and cabinet members!

The Democratic Party has consistently pursued balanced development strategies

to realize a country where everyone prospers evenly.

First, we will open an era of substantial local decentralization

and actively invest in living SOC projects tailored to regional characteristics

to make regions as livable as the metropolitan area.

Furthermore, the Democratic Party will actively support

the 'National Balanced Development Project Promotion Plan' announced by the government on December 29 last year,

which includes 23 projects worth 24.1 trillion won, to proceed without delay.

We will also tackle regional educational imbalances.

We will make 'regional base national universities' centers for talent development and regional development.

We will strengthen the competitiveness of regional base national universities more than before

and create a virtuous cycle of education and employment in the regions.

The Democratic Party will take the lead so that regions overflow with talent and regain vitality.

▲ We will create vibrant rural areas through livelihood stability for farmers and fishermen.

To make rural areas where people return,

we must first solve livelihood issues.

Livelihood stability brings vitality to rural areas and attracts young people back.

Since 2017, our government has been implementing the 'Youth Startup Farmer Support Plan,'

providing up to 1 million won per month to young farmers.

In 2019, 69.7% of the 1,600 selected youth startup farmers were returnees to farming,

showing that young people are moving into rural areas.

Meanwhile, the government has promoted the public interest direct payment system

to preserve the public and multifunctional values of agriculture.

The direct payment system, which was rice-centered,

has been restructured to strengthen public functions considering fairness among crops and income stability for small farmers.

The direct payment budget, which was only 1.6 trillion won in 2019,

is expected to increase by 50% to 2.4 trillion won this year,

bringing new vitality to rural areas.

In the fisheries sector,

we will promote the introduction of a public interest direct payment system

to prevent marine pollution, preserve the fishing environment, and supply safe seafood.

We will also gradually expand the agricultural food voucher project

to support vulnerable groups' agricultural food purchase costs.

This will improve health for vulnerable groups and contribute to stable sales channels for agricultural and livestock products,

increasing farmers' incomes.

We will support the smartization of agriculture by integrating 4th industrial revolution technologies,

creating new growth engines for rural areas.

▲ We will move toward a labor-respecting society.

The Democratic Party promises to persistently pursue ratification of the ILO core conventions

and legalization of all labor unions, even if it takes time.

We will steadily resolve labor issues such as regularization of non-regular workers and wage gap reduction.

We will also discuss reforming the wage structure with a low basic salary ratio.

Now, a new opportunity to advance toward a labor-respecting society

through social grand compromise is opening.

For the maturity of our society as a whole,

labor must actively roll up their sleeves and engage in new social dialogue.

They should no longer ignore the stage for social consensus dialogue,

and must firmly take their place.

We request a bold transformation of the labor movement

to become a proud main actor of our society beyond the achievements of the 1987 Great Workers' Struggle.

▲ We will more actively promote housing and job stability for youth.

Our National Assembly established the 「Youth Basic Act」 in January

to create a comprehensive framework for youth policies.

Now, we will change the lives of youth one by one with concrete policies.

The Democratic Party announced a plan to supply 100,000 houses for youth and newlyweds as an election pledge.

Among the 3rd phase new towns in the metropolitan area, 50,000 houses will be built near subway stations,

and 40,000 houses with jobs and cultural facilities in old downtown areas.

We will actively promote supplying 10,000 houses using national and public land such as the Yongsan railway site.

Considering jobs and convenience comprehensively,

we will build residential towns where youth can study and work without worrying about housing,

and newlyweds can settle stably.

We will also build the venture 4th powerhouse together with youth.

Through the K-Unicorn Project and achieving 5 trillion won annually in the mother fund,

we will nurture innovative ventures and excellent talent.

Companies that attracted mother fund investments in the past five years

created 35,000 jobs compared to the previous year,

averaging 15.1 jobs per company.

We will actively support youth venture startups.

We will nurture 1,000 young entrepreneurs annually, focusing on future new technologies such as AI.

We will also expand support for youth employment academy projects for humanities students.

We will create the Korean-style 'Intermittent' system, an employment insurance for artists,

so that young cultural and artistic people can continue creative production activities.

We will also expand the scope of creative encouragement grants.

The Democratic Party will establish a system where the state firmly supports youth who must give up their dreams due to economic difficulties

to nurture their dreams and grow into the future of a technology and culture powerhouse.

▲ We will create a safe country free from fine dust.

A country where children are healthy,

and all citizens live in a safe environment is the Democratic Party's promise.

Fine dust, classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO),

is already a serious social problem, defined as a 'silent social disaster.'

In March last year, the Democratic Party amended the 「School Health Act」

to install fine dust meters and air purifiers in all classrooms and senior centers,

alleviating citizens' concerns.

Although the government implements seasonal management,

we will pass the 「Special Act on Fine Dust」 pending in the National Assembly

and actively reduce coal power plant operations and old diesel vehicle use,

which are major sources of fine dust.

Furthermore, we will actively promote including lung function tests in national health checkups.

Finally, we ask the government to actively reflect citizens' voices in reducing fine dust

through continuous cooperation with China.

▲ We will not remain silent on sexual exploitation and human rights violations.

Respected citizens,

Recently, there was a heartbreaking incident.

The 'Telegram Nth Room case,' a heinous sexual exploitation crime,

where women were illegally lured, intimidated for a long time,

and digital sexual exploitation materials were produced and sold to unspecified many.

It was repeatedly reported in the media through citizens' reports and tips,

and became the first citizen consent petition under the revised National Assembly petition system.

Victims' lives were devastated helplessly by the rapid spread of sexual exploitation materials via smartphones.

Moreover, victims had to prove the damage themselves,

suffering lifelong psychological scars.

This collective crime producing numerous victims can be called '21st-century human trafficking.'

As the first citizen petition opening the era of citizen legislation,

the National Assembly must respond to victims' endless suffering

by strictly strengthening sentencing guidelines and conducting international joint investigations.

The Democratic Party will take the lead.

We appeal for the opposition party's participation.

Related bills are pending in the National Assembly.

The 「Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse」,

the 「Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes」,

the 「Special Act on the Punishment of Domestic Violence Crimes」,

and the 「Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes and Protection of Victims」 are pending.

These bills must be processed in the February extraordinary session to eradicate digital sex crimes.

We propose that both ruling and opposition parties recognize the seriousness together,

open related standing committees promptly in February, and process the bills.

▲ We will also work on independence and income expansion for the disabled.

The disability grading system was abolished in July last year.

The Disability Discrimination Act, disability pensions, and severe disability activity assistance system

all started during the Roh Moo-hyun administration.

Independence and basic income security for the disabled are measures of an advanced society.

Last year, the National Assembly amended the 「Disability Pension Act」

to raise the basic benefit from 250,000 won to 300,000 won for 161,000 severely disabled people with low income.

The Democratic Party will work harder to gradually expand the pension recipients and amounts according to income levels

to realize disability pensions.

We will also expand the regional integrated service system focusing on welfare, education, and jobs for the disabled.

We will continue to develop policies to improve the quality of life and independence of the disabled.

If the policies mentioned above are realized,

more than one million people including self-employed, youth, newlyweds, disabled, and elderly

will receive new welfare benefits.

5. I earnestly appeal to the people.

Respected citizens!

Speaker Moon Hee-sang and senior fellow lawmakers!

At the end of last year, our National Assembly had to endure a great ordeal.

After endless tedious debates over prosecutorial reform and election reform,

for the first time in the 20th National Assembly,

bills and budgets had to be processed by majority agreement, not bipartisan agreement.

Some citizens criticized and scolded us for processing bills without sufficient bipartisan agreement.

If there is responsibility, I will bear it all.

During my political career, I will endure more and listen humbly to fulfill that responsibility.

However, as the person leading bill processing,

I cannot help but say a word about the frustrating reality our National Assembly faces.

I was convinced that consensus processing was best,

and I endured and endured to achieve consensus.

But the structural problem that no bill can be processed without the consent of a specific party

has shackled our National Assembly.

I had no choice but to either give up processing bills by yielding to opposition demands,

or pass bills with only another majority agreement.

Looking back, only three bills passed the plenary despite opposition from the United Future Party in the 20th National Assembly.

They were the 「Prosecutorial Reform Act」, 「Election Act」, and 「Kindergarten 3 Laws」.

Passing these three bills in the National Assembly was as difficult as a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

According to the current National Assembly Advancement Act,

to process bills with differing views between ruling and opposition parties,

three-fifths of the members in the standing committee must agree.

Also, a deliberation period of up to 330 days must be observed from the standing committee.

Finally, the bill must be voted on in the plenary session,

but if the United Future Party refuses to proceed with the agenda as before,

the bill can only be processed by majority vote or indefinitely delayed.

This process entails enormous conflicts and social confusion.

I think it is time to revise the National Assembly Act again.

I hope that within the 20th National Assembly, we can create new coexistence and decision-making rules including revising the National Assembly Act.

▲ Citizens, please become the 'political vaccine.'

Respected citizens!

The general election is two months away.

However, I look at the current political reality with a dismal heart.

The Future Korea Party hastily formed by the Liberty Korea Party

has no independent members,

no independent platform or policies,

no independent office.

It is a paper party, a warehouse party,

a disguised party, in short, a fake party.

This political scheme

shakes the foundation of party politics established by the Constitution and laws,

and is 'truly bad politics,'

which will remain a stain in Korean political history.

World citizens will ridicule us.

A few days ago, Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, said in a broadcast interview

that the fake party 'Future Korea Party' would try to secure more than 20 seats in the general election.

This is 'truly bad political agitation.'

Isn't this really unacceptable?

Unfortunately, this is no longer an empty threat.

The United Future Party has abandoned democracy, party politics, public scrutiny, dignity, and decency

to become the largest party in the National Assembly by any means, even by trickery.

The Democratic Party gave up 15 proportional representation seats

to reflect public opinion as it is in the National Assembly seats,

following the democratic principle.

It was a sincere effort to move beyond two-party confrontational politics

toward cooperative and consensual democracy.

However, with the reality that the United Future Party's fake party formation is unstoppable,

the Democratic Party's sacrifice and decision for democracy

are at risk of being distorted as evil overcomes good.

If the United Future Party becomes the largest party in the National Assembly contrary to public opinion,

the 21st National Assembly will be filled with extreme confrontation and chaos from the first day of its opening.

On December 16 last year,

when the National Assembly was violently ravaged by asphalt far-right forces,

the scene where Leader Hwang Kyo-ahn shouted "We have won" will become commonplace.

Citizens who love democracy!

Our democracy is now facing a serious crisis.

Peace on the Korean Peninsula, a labor-respecting society, and recovery of the people's economy

are all at a crossroads.

Only you, the people, can stop the United Future Party's backward politics.

Now, you, the owners of democracy and history, must step forward directly.

The Democratic Party approaches the election with the urgency that this is the last chance.

In just two years,

the Democratic Party and Moon Jae-in government must

revitalize the economy, save people's livelihoods,

and restore the power structure from vested interests

to the people,

completing a historic achievement.

Only then will there be a future for Korean society.

With a lower and more humble attitude,

we will flexibly unite the people

and embrace different voices.

Finally, on behalf of the people,

we earnestly ask you to give the Democratic Party a chance to complete reforms.

Starting from the Kim Dae-jung administration,

through the Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in administrations,

the Democratic Party has consistently represented the common people and middle class,

and prioritized eliminating vested interests and social corruption.

We will not betray values or turn our backs on the people blinded by profit.

You may not have been satisfied so far,

but we will change to meet the people's demands while keeping our values.

We will take the harsh criticism as a lesson,

empathize at the people's level,

and create politics that bring tangible changes to lives.

Citizens, please become the political vaccine

to prevent the United Future Party's political destruction.

Please decide the future of the Republic of Korea.

Please protect the great progress of the Republic of Korea.

We ask for your firm choice.

▲ Let's open the path to peace on the Korean Peninsula again.

Finally, one more word.

Peace on the Korean Peninsula is at a crossroads.

North Korea-US talks have stalled,

and cooperation between South and North repeats stagnation.

We must start again now with new approaches and imagination.

New cooperation and exploration between South and North are urgently needed.

The government must boldly take action first.

Open the gates of Mount Kumgang and Kaesong,

connect railroads and roads,

and activate humanitarian and civil exchanges between South and North.

Please start with joint cooperation on the COVID-19 situation immediately.

We also demand the North Korean authorities.

Time is not abundant.

We hope you come out to the dialogue and cooperation table for peace on the Korean Peninsula before it is too late.

This is a very important moment in our national history.

If we let this time slip away,

our nation may face a time of regret that will be deeply felt for a long time.

Now, no matter what anyone says,

it must be a time for bold decisions and transformation.

We also appeal to the people.

Please vote for 'peace' once again in the upcoming general election.

There is no stronger message for peace than the Democratic Party's victory in the general election.

Please decide by voting so that the Moon Jae-in government can vigorously advance on the path of peace on the Korean Peninsula again.

Thank you very much for listening for a long time, citizens,

and fellow lawmakers, seniors and juniors.

Thank you.