Democratic Party's Determination for Solo National Assembly Opening on the 5th
Continuous Noise over Geum Tae-seop's Disciplinary Action and Yoon Mi-hyang's Accounting Controversy
Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 3rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The Democratic Party of Korea, which secured an overwhelming 177 seats in the April 15 general election, is facing ongoing controversies such as the accounting scandal involving Representative Yoon Mee-hyang and the disciplinary action against former Representative Geum Tae-seop, right at the start of the 21st National Assembly. Amid this, as the United Future Party expressed opposition to convening the first extraordinary session of the 21st National Assembly, the Democratic Party has shown its intention to proceed with a solo opening excluding the United Future Party. This has sparked criticism from both inside and outside the political circle regarding the Democratic Party's unilateral actions as the 'majority ruling party.'
Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan emphasized the intention to open the National Assembly at the Supreme Council meeting on the 3rd, stating, "We will elect the Speaker and Deputy Speakers on June 5 according to the National Assembly Act." He added, "The National Assembly Act was already agreed upon by both ruling and opposition parties. Opening the National Assembly according to the law cannot be a subject of negotiation or concession."
Meanwhile, Democratic Party floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon also expressed a similar intention on the same day, saying, "If the National Assembly opens on the 5th, even if parties that do not abide by the law make a fuss, the steps toward reform for a working National Assembly cannot be stopped," effectively signaling a solo opening excluding the United Future Party.
The United Future Party strongly opposes the Democratic Party's demand to open the National Assembly. United Future Party floor leader Joo Ho-young argued on the 2nd, "According to our legal review, the Speaker and Deputy Speakers cannot be elected without the agreement of the negotiation groups." It is pointed out that it is impossible under the National Assembly Act for the ruling party to unilaterally handle the convening of the plenary session of the extraordinary National Assembly, the distribution of standing committee chairs, and other National Assembly operations by electing the Speaker and Deputy Speakers.
He also mentioned former Representative Geum. Floor leader Joo criticized, "Even though former Representative Geum voted according to his conscience, he was not nominated and was even disciplined. In a National Assembly situation where even such intra-party democracy is suffocated, if a party with 177 seats shouts 'according to the National Assembly Act,' then the National Assembly is unnecessary, and the opposition party is also unnecessary."
Earlier, the Democratic Party disciplined former Representative Geum for 'not following the party line.' The Democratic Party Ethics Committee held a meeting on the 25th of last month and issued a 'warning' to former Representative Geum. This came three months after about 500 party members submitted a disciplinary request against him in February. It is reported that former Representative Geum was notified of the disciplinary action on the 28th of last month.
The disciplinary action against former Representative Geum has drawn criticism from both inside and outside the political circle. The reason is that the Democratic Party, now the 'majority ruling party,' is infringing on the autonomy of individual lawmakers and suppressing expressions of conscience within the party.
Kim Hae-young, a Democratic Party Supreme Council member known as a party dissident, pointed out at the Supreme Council meeting on the 3rd, "The disciplinary action against former Representative Geum is not limited to an individual's issue but is a very important constitutional matter regarding how far the conscience of lawmakers under party democracy will be allowed." There are concerns that the disciplinary action against former Representative Geum may be unconstitutional.
Former Representative Geum himself directly criticized the Democratic Party on his Facebook on the 2nd. He questioned, "I really did not expect a political party to do something similar to the prosecution," adding, "Regarding the Cho Kuk incident, the Yoon Mee-hyang incident, and others, the party leadership has imposed a gag order, and lawmakers do not say a word about the issues that the public is most interested in. Is this really normal?"
Yoon Mi-hyang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is arriving at her office in the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 4th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The disciplinary action against former Representative Geum contrasts with the ruling party's recent defense of Representative Yoon Mee-hyang, who has been embroiled in various allegations. Although Yoon has recently faced calls for resignation amid allegations of misappropriation of donations to the Justice and Memory Foundation, the Democratic Party maintains the position that "fact verification comes first."
While opposition parties such as the United Future Party continue their daily attacks on Representative Yoon, party insiders like Jeong Cheong-rae and Lee Soo-jin have even visited her office in person to offer comfort.
Experts emphasize that even if the ruling party unilaterally operates the National Assembly within the scope permitted by law, there will be no one to object.
Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said regarding the Democratic Party's push for a solo opening, "Even if there is opposition from the opposition party, it is correct to open the National Assembly as stipulated by the National Assembly Act. The same applies if the opposition party becomes the ruling party," adding, "Even if negotiations are incomplete and unresolved, the National Assembly should open first and then resolve the issues."
He added, "Within the limits allowed by law, even if the ruling party operates unilaterally, no one will object," but criticized, "The disciplinary action against former Representative Geum is a call to return to the era of the party president system. Those who opposed the party president system in the past are now the mainstream forces of the Democratic Party, including leader Lee Hae-chan. So, are these people now trying to return to the era of the party president system?"
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