[President Moon's Policy Speech] Joo Ho-young: "One-sided Self-Praise, Great Disappointment Due to Big Gap in Reality Perception"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, evaluated President Moon Jae-in's National Assembly policy speech on the 28th as "a speech full of one-sided self-praise" and said it was "very disappointing."

After the policy speech held at the National Assembly that day, Joo met with reporters and said, "There is such a huge gap in the perception of reality in all areas including security, economy, quarantine, and rising real estate prices that I feel despair."

He said, "He should honestly admit the failures across the entire state affairs and seek cooperation from the National Assembly, but the speech was filled only with flowery language," adding, "It feels as if the Republic of Korea we live in and the Republic of Korea the president lives in are different places."

Joo also criticized, "I made a public inquiry representing the people, but there has been no response for 100 days, and even after asking 10 new questions about current issues, there was no answer at all, only one-sided self-praise."

Right after the policy speech, Joo held a party meeting and expressed discomfort toward the Blue House Security Office, which blocked entry to search the body of the opposition floor leader.

He said, "It was truly an absurd experience. I want to know whether everyone who entered the presidential meeting room was searched or if the ruling party floor leader was also searched," adding, "The head of Blue House security came and apologized, saying it was a security guard's mistake, but I will look into whether it was a mistake or an intentional provocation." It is known that Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was not searched that day.

Joo said, "The president visiting the National Assembly is to listen to the stories of the National Assembly members who represent the people, but it is absurd to be treated as a subject of search and denied access," and criticized, "This administration is one-way in all areas and distances itself from the people, but I did not expect even the opposition floor leader to be searched."

In response, Representative Jeong Jin-seok, referring to his experience as Secretary General of the National Assembly, criticized, "There has never been a precedent of searching and blocking. Even during President Jeon Du-hwan's era, this was not done." Representative Ha Tae-kyung also raised his voice, saying, "The National Assembly is the home of the National Assembly members, so why conduct searches?"