"Such a Major Issue Decided by One Person" Gominjeong, Negotiations for National Assembly Organization Fail... Kim Jongin Publicly Criticizes

Assemblyman Ko, Interview with Jin Seong-jun of the Democratic Party on 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show'
Democratic Party Denies Kim's Acting Chairman Behind United Future Party's Refusal to Form Parliamentary Committees

Ko Min-jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a greeting at the full meeting of the Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] On the 30th, Go Min-jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, during a radio broadcast where she served as a one-day anchor, mentioning the breakdown of the 21st National Assembly's leadership negotiation. Go's remarks align with the Democratic Party's claim on the 29th that Kim's influence was behind the United Future Party's refusal to form the leadership.

On the same day, Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, held a press briefing at the National Assembly after the failure of the ruling and opposition floor leaders' meeting, stating, "The United Future Party has notified us of their refusal."

Kim Young-jin, the Democratic Party's chief deputy floor leader, raised suspicions of Kim's behind-the-scenes involvement as the reason for the negotiation breakdown, asserting, "It is necessary for the United Future Party to recognize Floor Leader Joo's authority in negotiations and decision-making. Kim Jong-in is excessively interfering in floor matters."

Go Min-jung conducted an interview with Jin Sung-jun, a Democratic Party member, on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' substituting for PD Kim Hyun-jung that morning.

Go asked Jin, "Kim Tae-nyeon, the Democratic Party floor leader, also stated that the rejection of the tentative agreement was due to Kim's excessive involvement in floor affairs. There are many analyses suggesting Kim's influence played a role. What do you think about that?"

Jin replied, "From the circumstances, it seems likely that Kim was strongly involved."

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party [Image source=Yonhap News]

He continued, "The second agreement was reached on Sunday afternoon, the weekend, but without procedures like the United Future Party's caucus meeting, it was immediately rejected at 10 a.m. on Monday. Looking at that, it seems Floor Leader Joo Ho-young tried to get Kim's approval by presenting the tentative agreement, but failed to obtain it."

When Go said, "It's hard to believe that such significant matters are swayed by one person's will. I think this is not the direction we should aim for in the future," Jin also pointed out, "Of course, even within the United Future Party, the ratification process should have been carried out through a caucus meeting, and it is truly regrettable that this did not happen."

Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (right), and Kim Young-jin, the chief deputy floor leader, are leaving the plenary session hall after concluding the plenary session for the election of standing committee chairs on the afternoon of the 29th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 29th, Kim Tae-nyeon, the Democratic Party floor leader, held a press briefing at the National Assembly, stating, "There was meaningful progress in the meeting between the floor leaders of both parties that lasted late into yesterday, and we made the maximum concessions possible. However, this morning, the United Future Party notified us of their refusal."

He added, "The United Future Party rejected what could be called a tentative agreement that had made significant progress yesterday. Thus, negotiations with the United Future Party have broken down."

He further said, "All responsibility for stalling the working National Assembly and causing difficulties for the public lies with the United Future Party. The Democratic Party will hold a plenary session today, excluding the United Future Party, to elect standing committee chairs and resume normal National Assembly operations. The Democratic Party is determined to handle the third supplementary budget within the June session as promised to the public."

Meanwhile, regarding the Democratic Party's claim that Kim Jong-in's so-called 'influence' was behind the breakdown of the National Assembly leadership negotiations, the United Future Party flatly denied it.

United Future Party spokesperson Bae Jun-young issued a verbal statement saying, "The allegation of Kim Jong-in's involvement is a serious falsehood. The Democratic Party has excessively distorted the facts."