Opposition Party, Previously Powerless in National Assembly, Shifts to Offensive Over Media Collusion and Disaster Relief Issues

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] The opposition party, which showed a powerless stance dragged along by the ruling party's unilateral operation in the July National Assembly, is now launching an offensive on the issues of 'media collusion with power' and 'disaster relief.' Based on the revelations of lawyer Kwon Kyung-ae, a former member of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun), they are raising their voices to investigate suspicions of collusion between power and the media, not just collusion between prosecutors and the media, while actively responding to support issues for disaster recovery by visiting flood-affected areas.

On the 7th, Jeon Ju-hye, a lawmaker from the United Future Party, said on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "despite Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's exercise of command authority, no clear evidence related to prosecutor-media collusion has emerged," and rather emphasized the need to investigate collusion between power and the media. She stressed, "Behind the 'killing of Han Dong-hoon' is the 'killing of Yoon Seok-yeol,' and there is no choice but to say that a fair standard should be applied to the collusion between power and the media, and this part should also be investigated."

Earlier, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, held a press conference the day before and raised suspicions of collusion between power and the media based on lawyer Kwon's revelations. He said, "The person who told lawyer Kwon that 'Yoon Seok-yeol and Han Dong-hoon must be ousted' is said to be someone who attends the weekly presidential meetings and oversees broadcasting, so we need to reveal who this is," adding, "The truth must be uncovered through a special prosecutor or a parliamentary audit." However, Han Sang-hyuk, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, who was identified as the person who spoke with lawyer Kwon, denied these allegations as 'false,' leading to a battle over the truth.

As heavy rain damage spread nationwide, the opposition party also proactively started 'disaster politics.' The opposition visited the affected areas ahead of the ruling party and was the first to raise the issue of expanding support. The People's Party is focusing on additional disaster supplementary budgets, while the United Future Party emphasizes increasing disaster relief funds for victims. On the 6th, Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People's Party, said, "Let's utilize the disaster recovery budget and contingency funds," adding, "If that is not enough, we must prepare a disaster supplementary budget, including changes to the main budget expenditure items, to promptly carry out emergency recovery, support, and permanent facility reinforcement." Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the United Future Party, agreed on the same day, saying, "If no budget has been allocated, a supplementary budget is inevitable."

After visiting the affected areas and volunteering, floor leader Joo also argued, "Let's increase the disaster relief funds, which have been frozen for 15 years." He said, "The disaster relief funds of 1 million won for residential houses and 2 million won for commercial buildings when houses are flooded are unrealistic and too small," adding, "We will raise the disaster compensation funds to match reality."

The opposition party's early call for expanded support appears to be an effort to preempt the 'disaster issue' while simultaneously establishing an image as a party that cares about safety and people's livelihoods. Since both ruling and opposition parties emphasize support for the affected areas, there is a possibility that full discussions on this will take place at the upcoming settlement National Assembly starting on the 16th.