Ahn Cheol-soo also says, "Guest body search by host"
Kim Tae-nyeon says, "I also underwent identity check"
[Asia Economy reporters Wondara and Lim Chunhan] The controversy over the excessive body search of Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, continues. The Presidential Security Service explained that it "followed the principles," but the People Power Party raised their voices in criticism, saying it was "treating the opposition party like servants."
On the morning of the 28th, before President Moon Jae-in's policy speech, Joo Ho-young underwent a security check by the Presidential Security Service while trying to attend a pre-briefing held in the Speaker's office. On the morning of the 29th, at an emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly, Joo said, "President Moon emphasizes cooperation, but his actions are increasingly distant from cooperation," adding, "I have not received any direct statement regarding the incident where I was searched while trying to enter the reception room." He continued, "There has been no response yet to the 10 questions I sent to the President two days ago," and criticized, "Is cooperation only when the Blue House or the Democratic Party follows what they do, and not cooperation otherwise?"
Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, appeared on YTN radio that morning and criticized, "What do they see the opposition party as? Isn't this an insult to dignity?" He pointed out, "When I was the deputy floor leader, I was never subjected to a body search during meetings with the President," and added, "There is a problem with conducting body searches, especially in the main building of the National Assembly." He emphasized, "The host is welcoming guests, but the guests are searching the host? Does that make sense? If that is the nature of the relationship, it means they see the National Assembly completely as their subordinate."
Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, also joined the controversy. At the morning supreme council meeting, Ahn said, "Yesterday, during the entry process to the pre-briefing before the President’s policy speech at the National Assembly, there was a controversy over the body search of the opposition floor leader," and criticized, "Even conceding a hundred times, this case is like a guest searching the host’s body when visiting someone’s house." He added, "It is neither respect for the National Assembly nor courtesy to the opposition party," and said, "If the Presidential Security Service has to search the body of the opposition floor leader to protect the President, it shows how little confidence the Moon Jae-in administration has in itself."
Meanwhile, the Security Service explained, "We only followed the principles." In a statement released the previous day, the Security Service said, "It is a principle to search all attendees at external presidential events," and "For National Assembly events, the standards of the Blue House main building events are applied, exempting the top five officials and party leaders from searches. Floor leaders of parties are not exempt from searches." They further explained, "However, when a party floor leader enters accompanied by the party leader, searches have been exempted as a customary practice depending on the security environment. Floor leader Joo arrived alone at the reception room after the President, the top five officials, and party leaders from both ruling and opposition parties had all entered." They added, "These security guidelines were created during previous administrations and have been applied accordingly," and expressed regret, saying, "The head of the Security Service expressed disappointment that the on-site security personnel did not exercise flexibility."
The Democratic Party also revealed that floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon underwent a security check. Kwon Hyuk-gi, chief secretary to the floor leader, said, "It was initially misunderstood that floor leader Kim was not searched because he said he was not searched when floor leader Joo was searched entering the plenary hall," and added, "During the pre-briefing, the security staff asked about identity and badge wearing, among other things."
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