"Has the 'Roh Moo-hyun Spirit' Disappeared from the Democratic Party? Rising Criticism of the Giant Ruling Party Without Debate"

Recent Speedy Legislation by the Democratic Party... Criticism Arises Over 'Crushing Debate and Persuasion'
Concerns That the 'Roh Moo-hyun Spirit' Emphasizing Debate Has Disappeared
United Party Lawmakers Express Regret, Saying "Democratic Party Seems Addicted to Voting"
Calls for Self-Reflection Also Emerge Within the Democratic Party
Where Is Seoul Public Opinion Headed... United Party Leads Democratic Party in Party Support Ratings in Seoul

The late former President Roh Moo-hyun during the 5th Republic corruption hearing / Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "If there are objections, there must be a debate! Is there any meeting without discussion and persuasion?"

On January 30, 1990, Roh Moo-hyun, then a first-term lawmaker of the Unified Democratic Party (honorifics omitted), shouted this in opposition when Kim Young-sam, the party leader, announced a merger with the ruling Democratic Justice Party and the New Democratic Republican Party under the banner of a conservative grand coalition.

However, the opposition faction, including Roh Moo-hyun, who requested a chance for debate, was ignored. When delegates in the front rows shouted "Second!" and "Third!" the chairperson exercised authority and announced, "We will pass this by applause." Applause erupted from the supporting delegates.

The opposition fiercely protested, saying, "Unanimity is a fraud, invalid!" The chairperson then corrected the result to "almost unanimous" and hastily declared the meeting adjourned. The entire process from opening to resolution took only 35 minutes.

The late former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil announcing the triple merger in January 1990 together with former President Roh Tae-woo and then Democratic Party Chairman Kim Young-sam. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Afterwards, Roh Moo-hyun and seven like-minded lawmakers founded the Democratic Party. With only eight members including Roh, it was nicknamed the "Little Democratic Party." This "Little Democratic Party" has now grown into the 176-seat ruling party, the Democratic Party of Korea.

The very party where Roh insisted on the necessity of debate is now facing criticism for suppressing discussion and persuasion. Even among supporters, voices urging self-reflection saying "This is not right" are emerging. In a recent survey on party support in the Seoul area, the Democratic Party was overtaken by the United Future Party.

On the previous day (the 3rd), the Democratic Party handled real estate-related bills, follow-up legislation for the appointment of the head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, and the so-called "Late Choi Sook-hyun Act," a partial amendment to the National Sports Promotion Act, at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee (Legislation Committee) plenary session, which the United Future Party boycotted.

However, during the process, conflicts arose between those insisting on forming the Bill Review Subcommittee 2 to conduct systematic and detailed scrutiny through debate and review, and those arguing that not forming a subcommittee does not violate the National Assembly Act, causing disruptions.

The subcommittee system is designed to divide the vast scope of standing committee responsibilities for review. The floor leaders of both parties agreed on subcommittee reorganization on the 14th of last month.

However, when it came to the actual bill processing, the Democratic Party and the United Future Party repeatedly clashed. On this day, United Future Party lawmakers requested the formation of Bill Review Subcommittee 2 to conduct systematic and detailed scrutiny, citing Articles 57 and 58 of the National Assembly Act, which do not allow skipping the so-called "reduced review."

But Democratic Party lawmakers insisted that since the subcommittee was not fully formed due to issues with the Budget and Accounts Subcommittee, they would complete the systematic and detailed scrutiny in the plenary session and immediately forward the bills to the plenary session for a vote.

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader, and other lawmakers are condemning the Democratic Party of Korea at an emergency party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 30th, shouting slogans such as "Is the National Assembly a rubber stamp for the Blue House's orders? Wake up, Democratic Party, which causes parliamentary dictatorship and deadlock." Photo by Yonhap News

The United Future Party immediately protested. Assemblywoman Cho Soo-jin of the United Future Party said, "The ruling party only interprets Article 57 of the National Assembly Act, which allows subcommittees, but I cannot understand this at all," adding, "If forming a subcommittee is optional, then why did we have subcommittees until the 20th National Assembly?"

Assemblyman Yoo Sang-beom raised his voice, saying, "I confirmed with the National Assembly Secretariat that there was only one case in 2012 in the Knowledge Economy Committee where a bill passed the plenary session without forming a subcommittee," and added, "After eight years, not only the Legislation Committee but also the Planning and Finance Committee, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, and the Steering Committee passed all bills without forming subcommittees, proceeding unilaterally by the majority party."

Assemblyman Jang Je-won criticized, "It seems the Democratic Party and Legislation Committee Chairman Yoon Ho-jung are addicted to voting." He continued, "The Legislation Committee should have in-depth discussions for high-level expertise and completeness of laws," and strongly pointed out, "If the Legislation Committee continues to just debate a few times and then vote, it seems the committee will have no work to do."

He further criticized, "We should avoid voting in the Legislation Committee. After the Choi Sook-hyun Act, the real estate laws and comprehensive real estate tax laws were all planned for voting. How can the Legislation Committee demonstrate its expertise when it is addicted to voting like this?"

On the 3rd, at the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, opposition party members are leaving as the session is adjourned. Photo by Yonhap News

Criticism also emerged within the Democratic Party regarding the de facto forced voting under the pretext of "majority rule." Kim Hae-young, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, harshly criticized the party's unilateral bill processing at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, saying, "Majority rule should be the last resort."

He added, "Cooperation in the National Assembly is important because it helps more effectively mediate conflicts in our society," emphasizing, "In an era of severe political polarization, the courage of politicians to cooperate is more necessary than ever."

Assemblyman Roh Woong-rae, who is running for the Democratic Party Supreme Council, also criticized the real estate legislative process, saying, "Physical violence by a minority is a problem, but majority-rule violence is also a problem."

In an interview with BBS's Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal on the 30th, Assemblyman Roh said, "The meaning of 176 seats is not to push through by force but to lead cooperation with the opposition and work together," and pointed out, "The current situation is by no means desirable."

He added, "There are criticisms that the party has lost its original intention, and concerns that it resembles the arrogance shown when the then Grand National Party was intoxicated with power," and expressed worry, saying, "Now is the time to return to the original intention and renew our resolve. Otherwise, the by-elections next year, the presidential election, and local elections could pose a great threat to us."

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.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, a survey on party support in the Seoul area showed that the United Future Party surpassed the Democratic Party of Korea for the first time in 43 weeks as of the 31st.

According to a survey conducted by Realmeter commissioned by tbs from the 27th to the 29th, targeting 1,511 men and women aged 18 and over nationwide (95% confidence level, sampling error ±2.5 percentage points, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website), party support in the Seoul area showed the United Future Party at 40.8%, ahead of the Democratic Party's 31.4% by 9.4 percentage points.

This is the first time in 43 weeks since the second week of October last year, when the predecessor of the United Future Party, the Liberty Korea Party, recorded 33.8%, narrowly ahead of the Democratic Party's 32.5% within the margin of error amid the spread of the former Justice Minister Cho Kuk scandal. From the third week of October, the Democratic Party regained the lead with 40.0% to 35.7% for the United Future Party, and the Democratic Party's lead continued thereafter.

As a result, among Democratic Party supporters, there are criticisms that they cannot understand the Democratic Party's legislative rush, recalling former President Roh Moo-hyun who enjoyed debate.

A male office worker in his 40s, A, who has supported the Democratic Party for over 10 years, said, "Debate is an essential element in a democratic society. Especially when recalling former President Roh Moo-hyun who enjoyed debate, it is even more so," and criticized, "Bill processing is good, but if the 'means' and the process become problematic, what use is it?" He emphasized, "It is important to listen to the opposition opinions of the people who supported the opposition."

Another supporter, a female office worker in her 30s, B, said, "Honestly, it only looks like a rampage by the ruling party," and strongly condemned, "I did not support them for this. This is not a democratic procedure."

Criticism also continued from the Justice Party. Bae Jin-kyo, floor leader of the Justice Party, pointed out at a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th, "Relying on the negotiation group-centered customs, when negotiations broke down, they took all the standing committee chair positions and completely ignored the principles of dialogue and debate," and said, "The need for National Assembly reform has been highlighted for the July extraordinary session."