Kim Tae-nyeon’s remark angers United Party… "We have been negotiating the original organization continuously, why the shock?" (Comprehensive)

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," following the statement by Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, 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 commentary on the 31st, "It is a provocation to the people and the opposition party who were expecting a solemn start to the 21st National Assembly after celebrating the Day of Teaching of Coexistence and Mutual Prosperity (Buddha's Birthday), which teaches that 'I exist because of you, and you exist because of me,'" adding, "The people told the National Assembly to work, not to order the ruling party to do everything alone."

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

On the same day, Floor Leader Kim held a press conference and stated that the opening is scheduled for the 5th of next month and that there will be no negotiations. He also said he was shocked that the opposition party made the opening a subject of negotiation.

The United Party pointed out that Kim's remarks were tantamount to declaring that they would not negotiate the organization of the National Assembly. Spokesperson Choi said, "The organization of the National Assembly ends once it opens. Once the Speaker of the National Assembly is elected, standing committees can be assigned without the cooperation of the opposition," adding, "The procedure for electing the Speaker is the most important negotiation milestone for the opposition."

Choi added, "There have been luncheons between party leaders and ongoing consultations, but it was more surprising that the ruling party floor leader said on Sunday at 2 p.m. as if the opposition had ignored everything so far and made the organization of the National Assembly a subject of negotiation," questioning, "What is the intention behind pressuring the opposition when further discussions can continue?"

In this regard, it is known that Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Party, and Kim held a drinking meeting in a location in Seoul on the 29th and conducted consultations. Spokesperson Choi said, "Even when the Democratic Party had only 82 seats in the 18th National Assembly, we made concessions and compromises, but now it is being treated as if that never happened," adding, "Until now, we thought it was just a threat for negotiation, but hearing the opposition floor leader say he was 'shocked,' we are the ones who are shocked."

The United Party also insists that the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Budget and Accounts Committee must be held by the opposition. Spokesperson Choi said, "The driving force for checks and balances within the National Assembly comes from the opposition, based on the principle of separation of powers," adding, "Because too many bills are proposed competitively, they conflict with each other, and their wording and structure do not match. Even in the last National Assembly, 58% of bills were amended in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee."