Democrats: "No Reason to Delay" Integration: "Difficult to Accept One-Sided Demands"
Yoon Actively Explains Allegations... Confrontation Expected Between Ruling and Opposition Over Demand for State Audit
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] The ruling and opposition parties continue their tense negotiations over the organization of the 21st National Assembly. In addition, the status of Yoon Mi-hyang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, has emerged as a variable. Amid the uncertainty of whether the Assembly will convene within the legal deadline due to the confrontation between the parties, the opposition has demanded a parliamentary investigation into Representative Yoon.
Regarding the chairmanships of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, the ruling and opposition parties have yet to narrow their differences. The Democratic Party pressured the United Future Party by asserting that they will convene the Assembly within the legal deadline regardless of negotiations. Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 1st, "There is no reason to delay opening the National Assembly. The Democratic Party will hold a party meeting on the 2nd and submit a request for an extraordinary session with parties that agree to a working National Assembly." He added, "If the United Future Party truly wants to prove it is a working party, it must participate unconditionally in the opening of the 21st National Assembly."
On the other hand, the United Future Party maintains that if the organization negotiations fail, the Assembly cannot convene. Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Future Party, said to reporters after attending a Buddha's Birthday ceremony on the 30th of last month, "The Democratic Party says they will do as they please and just want us to follow," adding, "This is a statement that eliminates the opposition's reason for existence. We will try to abide by the National Assembly Act's deadlines, but it is difficult to comply with the Democratic Party's unilateral demands."
As the tug-of-war between the ruling and opposition parties continues, the status of Representative Yoon has also emerged as a variable. Representative Yoon, who began her term on the 30th of last month, actively refuted allegations raised by the media on her first day in office. In response to media allegations that she paid her children's tuition with the 'Kim Bok-dong Scholarship,' Representative Yoon denied, saying, "The report is a false claim." She stated on Facebook, "I donated to the Butterfly Fund, not received benefits," and explained, "The expression 'received Kim Bok-dong grandmother's scholarship' was meant to emphasize that it was pocket money given by the grandmother."
On the 1st, the first Monday after the start of the 21st National Assembly's term, reporters gathered at Representative Yoon Mi-hyang's office in the National Assembly Members' Office Building, waiting for her to arrive./Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
While Representative Yoon is defending herself, the opposition is demanding a parliamentary investigation into her. This is expected to be a point of confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties going forward. Floor leader Joo said, "The ongoing investigation should be concluded quickly to clearly reveal the truth," and added, "If that is not enough, a parliamentary investigation or even a public campaign to expel Yoon Mi-hyang should be carried out."
The Democratic Party has stated that it will not take any separate measures until specific charges are revealed. Floor leader Kim drew a line regarding Representative Yoon at a press briefing on the 31st, saying, "She is not subject to a parliamentary investigation." He said, "I believe Representative Yoon has sufficiently explained herself. I expect the prosecution's investigation to proceed soon."
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