'5-Minute Speech' and 'One Piece' Outfit... Fresh Lawmakers Show Off Their Presence

'One Piece Controversy' Ryu Ho-jeong "Parliamentary Authority Is Not Established by Suits"
'Yoon Hee-sook Syndrome' in 5-Minute Parliamentary Speech

On the afternoon of the 4th, the Comprehensive Real Estate Tax Act partial amendment bill was passed at the National Assembly plenary session.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "I wanted to break the National Assembly's tradition symbolized by dark suits and ties." (Ryu Hojung, Justice Party lawmaker)

"I am a tenant. When I saw the lease renewal request right and rent ceiling regulations in the Lease Protection Act, the thought that came to my mind was that from four years later, I would be stuck living on monthly rent. What kind of audacity and arrogance causes the lives of ten million jeonse tenants to suffer?" (Yoon Heesook, United Future Party lawmaker)

Amid the ruling party's dominance, the presence of some first-term lawmakers is increasing. The most eye-catching are Ryu Hojung of the Justice Party and Yoon Heesook of the United Future Party.

Lawmaker Ryu entered the National Assembly plenary session wearing a red-toned dress with the intention of breaking the tradition centered on 'middle-aged men in their 50s.' Her bold attempt was praised among lawmakers as sparking a 'young change' within the National Assembly.

Another first-term lawmaker, Yoon, rose to stardom with her so-called '5-minute speech' pointing out the loopholes in the Lease Protection Act during the National Assembly plenary session. In Yoon's case, it positively influenced her party's approval ratings, leading to what is called the 'Yoon Heesook syndrome.'

Ryu Ho-jeong, a Justice Party lawmaker, is briefly leaving the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 4th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Ryu Hojung's 'Dress' Outfit Breaks National Assembly Tradition

On the 4th, a sudden 'dress controversy' erupted over Ryu attending the National Assembly plenary session wearing a dress.

That day, Ryu attended the plenary session wearing a wrap-type dress mixed with red, blue, and white colors, along with a yellow mask.

Some netizens criticized Ryu's outfit as inappropriate. In the National Assembly, where most lawmakers wear suits, a dress above the knee was deemed inappropriate. Especially on some pro-Moon Jae-in supporter sites, mocking comments such as "Call me oppa," "I thought coffee was delivered to the National Assembly," and "Reminds me of a ticket tea room" were made, effectively amounting to sexual harassment remarks directed at Ryu.

Despite anticipating some controversy, Ryu said she wore the red dress because she "wanted to break the 'tradition.'"

On the 6th, appearing on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyunjung's News Show,' Ryu said, "People say the National Assembly is centered on middle-aged men in their 50s. That was symbolized by black or dark suits and ties. I wanted to break these traditions." She added, "I have worked in the IT (Information Technology) industry, where it was rare to see people wearing suits. The National Assembly is a workplace too, and I thought it shouldn't be different."

Regarding criticisms of being 'improper,' she said, "I don't think the authority of the National Assembly is established by suits. It can only be established when working for the citizens."

This approach has drawn supportive voices from both ruling and opposition parties. Some lawmakers responded that Ryu broke the National Assembly's excessive solemnity and sparked young change.

Democratic Party lawmaker Ko Minjung said on Facebook, "I don't agree with all of Ryu's thoughts, but I cannot agree with the excessive criticism she received for her outfit," and added, "I thank her for breaking the National Assembly's excessive solemnity and authoritarianism."

Positive reactions also came from the opposition. Kim Jaeseop, a United Future Party emergency committee member, emphasized on Facebook, "Change is not a big deal. If young people can wear what they want and say what they want, isn't that change? Isn't that a young party?"

The photo shows Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the United Future Party, giving a speech at the plenary session hall on the 30th of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ 'Yoon Heesook Syndrome' Hits United Future Party... Also Affects Approval Ratings

Before Ryu, the first-term lawmaker who received the most attention was Yoon Heesook of the United Future Party. A former Korea Development Institute (KDI) researcher, Yoon gained attention with her 5-minute speech opposing the 'Three Lease Laws' at the plenary session on the 30th of last month, delivering a plea with alternatives.

Starting with "I am a tenant," the speech convincingly exposed the loopholes in the Three Lease Laws and other real estate bills, representing public sentiment. After the speech, her name dominated real-time search terms on portal sites for a while, drawing daily attention.

Within the party, praise continued to the extent of calling it the 'Yoon Heesook syndrome.' Won Heeryong, governor of Jeju and a potential presidential candidate, wrote on Facebook on the 2nd, "I saw the hope and future of the United Future Party," adding, "To regain power, we need people like Yoon with dignity, ability, and dedication."

Interest also focused on Yoon's book, Policy Betrayal. Former Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon said on Facebook, "If someone like her became Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, real estate would have been controlled already," and "I immediately ordered Yoon's book Policy Betrayal." Kim Woong, author of Prosecutor's Office and a lawmaker, wrote, "I recommend young people read Yoon's Policy Betrayal rather than Prosecutor's Office."

Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the United Future Party, expressed concerns during a 5-minute free speech at the National Assembly plenary session on the 30th of last month, after the Housing Lease Protection Act, which includes the introduction of the rent ceiling system and the right to request contract renewal, was passed.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Following the impact of Yoon's 5-minute free speech, lawmakers' attitudes also changed. On the 30th of last month, United Future Party lawmakers had shouted and left the session, but on this day, they stayed until the meeting ended and calmly engaged in opposition debate.

Many lawmakers also adopted Yoon's '5-minute speech.' Statements such as "I am a real tenant paying 30 million won deposit and 700,000 won monthly rent" (Shin Dongmin, Democratic Party), "I am Jang Kyungtae, a young person from Dongdaemun, Seoul, without a house" (Jang Kyungtae, Democratic Party), and "I am a tenant. As a newlywed couple married for three years, we took a jeonse loan and live in a villa in Eunpyeong-gu with my husband" (Yong Hyein, Basic Income Party) were heard.

In public opinion polls, the 'Yoon Heesook effect' was clearly evident. On the 6th, Realmeter, commissioned by TBS, conducted a survey from the 3rd to 5th among 1,510 men and women aged 18 and over nationwide. The Democratic Party's support dropped 2.7 percentage points from the previous week to 35.6%, while the United Future Party's support rose 3.1 percentage points to 34.8%.

In this survey, the United Future Party's support was higher than right after its founding (2nd week of February, 33.7%), and especially in Seoul, the United Future Party recorded 37.1%, surpassing the Democratic Party's 34.9%.

Realmeter analyzed, "This is the result of a combination of some backlash against real estate policies, United Future Party lawmaker Yoon Heesook's plenary speech, Prosecutor General Yoon Seokyoul's speech mentioning 'dictatorship and totalitarianism,' and the Democratic Party's response to it, all comprehensively affecting both parties." The margin of error for this survey is ±2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. For more details, refer to Realmeter or the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.