"Not a Negotiation Target," Says the Democratic Party... United Party Calls It "Arrogance and Tyranny Led by the Majority"

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, holds a press conference at the National Assembly on the 31st. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Future United Party reacted angrily, calling it "tyranny of the majority," in response to Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stating that "the opening on the 5th of next month is not negotiable."

Choi Hyung-doo, the floor spokesperson for the United Party, said in a statement on the 31st, "The people now desire cooperation and coexistence rather than confrontation and conflict."

He criticized, "It is a provocation to the people and the opposition party who were hoping for a solemn start of the 21st National Assembly, spending days teaching coexistence and mutual existence?that I exist because of you, and you exist because of me. The people told the National Assembly to work, not to order the ruling party to do everything alone."

He added, "In the 2008 18th general election, the Grand National Party received 37.48% of the vote and 153 seats, but chose to cooperate with the United Democratic Party, which had only 25.17% of the vote and 81 seats. Although it took 82 days to open due to conflicts over the formation of the National Assembly, we did not ignore or exclude the then-opposition Democratic Party."

Spokesperson Choi questioned, "Is it an attempt to divert public attention by shielding former Justice and Peace Committee representative Yoon Mi-hyang, who became the target of public outrage over allegations of embezzlement of government subsidies for comfort women grandmothers, and former Daejeon Police Chief Hwang Un-ha, who was indicted for election interference in the Ulsan mayoral election and ran as a police officer, as members of the Democratic Party?" He pointed out, "Arrogance and tyranny led by the majority will soon return like a boomerang."