United Future Party Rejects National Assembly Vice Speaker Position... "Ruling Party Should Resolve Judiciary Committee Chair Issue"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] The United Future Party has decided to refuse the recommendation for the National Assembly vice-chairman position. As a result, there may be disruptions in the appointment of the Intelligence Committee chairman and members, which require discussions with the National Assembly vice-chairman.

Choi Hyung-doo, the United Future Party floor spokesperson, told reporters after a party meeting at the National Assembly main building on the 8th, "The majority of members agreed that other standing committee chair positions without the Legislation and Judiciary Committee are meaningless, and the vice-chairman position is the same," explaining the decision.

The party intends to give up the National Assembly vice-chairman position if the ruling party does not return the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship. On the same day, Jeong Jin-seok, a five-term lawmaker and the most senior member in the party who was expected to be nominated as the National Assembly vice-chairman, posted on Facebook stating, "A tiger does not eat grass even when hungry," expressing his intention to forgo the vice-chairman position.

Spokesperson Choi said, "There is still a way for the ruling party to resolve the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair issue," adding, "In the National Assembly, the ruling party is not supposed to check the opposition but the government, and within the legislature, the ruling and opposition parties are on the same team. To do this, the Democratic Party should restore the cooperative system where the first and second parties hold the Speaker and Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair positions."

This decision has also caused setbacks in the appointment of the Intelligence Committee. Regarding concerns that the confirmation hearing for Park Ji-won, the National Intelligence Service director, conducted by the Intelligence Committee may be delayed, Spokesperson Choi responded, "According to internal members, the Intelligence Committee chairman has already been submitted, and the Speaker can proceed with the hearing, so it is unrelated," adding, "Regarding the hearing, the list of Intelligence Committee members has been submitted, and they will determine whether the candidate is suitable as the National Intelligence Service director."

The United Future Party criticized the inclusion of Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi's name on the 50th anniversary monument of the Gyeongbu Expressway completion and announced plans to "erase the name." Spokesperson Choi said, "The purpose of this monument is to dedicate it to the indomitable workers who worked under harsh conditions, so the dedication parties are the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Korea Expressway Corporation, and the Road Association," adding, "A dedication monument should not include a specific person's name, so having Kim Hyun-mi's name on it is a misjudgment."

Regarding Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's exercise of investigative authority, the party plans to hold a Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting to demand the attendance of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. Floor leader Joo Ho-young stated, "Minister Choo is abusing her authority to strip Prosecutor General Yoon of his investigative command, which is a very serious situation. We decided to hold a Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting to request Yoon's attendance to hear and understand the situation," adding, "Legislation and Judiciary Committee secretary Kim Do-eup will officially convene the committee and receive a detailed report on the situation regarding Yoon's attendance at the National Assembly."

Meanwhile, the United Future Party plans to focus its activities on special committees and task forces (TFs) along with standing committee assignments. Policy Committee Chair Lee Jong-bae said in his remarks at the party meeting, "In the future, the Special Committee for Preventing Private Equity Fund Corruption and Victim Relief will be chaired by Representative Yoo Ui-dong, with the first meeting scheduled for this week," adding, "The Real Estate Measures TF will be launched this week by Representative Song Seok-jun, the Small Business Revival Special Committee to be launched early next week will be chaired by Representative Yoon Young-seok, and the TF to investigate the corruption of the Lee Sang-jik family will be chaired by Representative Kwak Sang-do."