Joo Ho-young: "I didn't expect even the opposition floor leader to be searched... Truly absurd"
People Power Party criticizes, "'Moon Ri Fortress and Jaein Mountain Fortress'? An unprecedented act"
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 Heo Midam] On the 28th, the People Power Party expressed anger, calling it a "blatant insult to the legislature," after Floor Leader Joo Ho-young was subjected to a 'body search' by Blue House security guards while trying to have a conversation with President Moon Jae-in at the National Assembly.
Earlier, Floor Leader Joo raised his voice during a party meeting held immediately after President Moon's policy speech at the plenary session of the National Assembly that day, saying, "This administration is one-way in all areas and keeps distance from the people, but I really did not expect even the opposition floor leader to be searched like this."
He explained the situation at the time, saying, "Even though I said I was the People Power Party floor leader, the security guard insisted on searching me. When asked 'What do you have in your pockets?' I said 'Only my phone,' and then they searched my body front and back. I told the security guard, 'I cannot enter after being searched,' and left."
Floor Leader Joo pointed out, "The president visiting the National Assembly means he wants to listen to the stories of the members of the National Assembly who represent the people, but it was absurd to block access, and it was truly absurd to treat the opposition floor leader as an object to be prohibited from approaching and subject to a search."
Regarding this, the People Power Party strongly expressed regret over the unprecedented body search of the opposition floor leader.
Choi Hyung-doo, the People Power Party floor spokesperson, released a statement that day, saying, "An unprecedented incident occurred where the Blue House security team conducted a body search on Floor Leader Joo in front of the meeting room for the president, the National Assembly Speaker, and the floor leaders of both ruling and opposition parties before today's policy speech," and criticized, "Is the Blue House blocking even the opposition floor leader's access inside the National Assembly building?"
He continued, "Forcibly conducting a body search on the opposition floor leader inside the National Assembly is a blatant insult to the legislature," and declared, "The People Power Party is angry with the Blue House's arrogance together with the people."
He also said, "There has never been a president who blocked the opposition floor leader with the security team before," adding, "Is the opposition floor leader's access to the meeting room a 'Great Wall of Moon' or 'Jaein Fortress'? The people are experiencing a 'country they have never experienced before.'"
Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a party meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 27th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Jeong Jin-seok, a five-term People Power Party lawmaker who served as the Secretary-General of the National Assembly, also criticized through his Facebook, saying, "Even when I was Secretary-General of the National Assembly, there was no precedent of body searches or restrictions when the president had tea time with party leadership. It is a blatant insult to the legislature."
Another party member, lawmaker Cho Hae-jin, also joined the criticism. He opened by saying, "Today, scenes casting a shadow over the future of parliamentary democracy unfolded simultaneously at the National Assembly."
He pointed out, "The opposition floor leader was invited to the president's tea time in the Speaker's office but was searched by Blue House security guards at the entrance of the Speaker's office. In the plenary session hall, Blue House security guards surrounded the meeting room as the meeting proceeded," calling it "all unprecedented."
He said, "Today at the National Assembly, the guests' aides were searched by the hosts, and the host had to prove to the guests' aides that he was not a criminal when entering his own house," calling it "literally a reversal of host and guest."
Then, lawmaker Cho raised his voice, saying, "Today in the plenary session hall, lawmakers were treated as potential terrorists against the president," and "It is my first time personally attending a meeting under the surveillance of Blue House security guards."
As the controversy arose, the Blue House Security Office issued a statement explaining, "The search of attendees at the president's external events follows the 'Security Work Guidelines,' and according to these guidelines, it is a principle to search all attendees at external events."
They added, "For National Assembly events, the standards of Blue House main building events are applied, exempting the top five officials and party leaders from searches, but floor leaders of parties are not exempt from searches," clarifying the policy.
However, the Security Office expressed regret over the lack of flexibility at the scene. The Security Office stated, "The head of the Security Office expressed regret and disappointment that the on-site security search personnel did not exercise flexibility."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
