野 "Gun Security in the National Assembly? Don't Trust Lawmakers" vs 與 "Don't You Know What Security Is?"

Joo Ho-young "No weapons should be brought in again in the future"
Gom Min-jeong "Carried out duties according to the law... Surely they knew"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 30th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Amid opposition parties' backlash over reports that bodyguards carrying pistols were deployed during President Moon Jae-in's policy speech at the National Assembly, the Blue House and the Democratic Party of Korea have rebutted, stating that it is merely a regulation related to duty performance.

On the morning of the 30th, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, held a press conference after the party's floor strategy meeting and said, "I don't know if it's because they don't trust the lawmakers inside the sacred National Assembly, but if the National Assembly Secretariat allowed the introduction of weapons through consultation, such an incident must never happen again."

On the same day, Kim Seong-won, senior deputy floor leader of the same party, criticized, "Not only did the Blue House Security Office sweep through the National Assembly grounds like ruffians, but it has also been confirmed that bodyguards armed with pistols were present at the site of the people's will, the National Assembly."

As opposition parties continued to criticize the fact that bodyguards carried pistols during President Moon's speech at the National Assembly, the Blue House and the ruling party immediately rebutted.

Kang Min-seok, spokesperson for the Blue House, stated in a notice that day, "According to Article 19 of the 'Act on the Protection of the President, etc.,' the Presidential Security Service carries weapons and performs duties to respond to any threats at security events."

He added, "This is the same for events held at the Blue House, and there are no exceptions even for overseas events."

Voices rebutting the opposition's criticism also came from the Democratic Party.

Goh Min-jung, a Democratic Party lawmaker and former Blue House spokesperson, wrote on her Facebook that day, "The Presidential Security Service performed its duties according to the law," and asked, "Do you really not know what presidential security is?"

She continued, "Since you have also been the ruling party, you must know. If you know and are doing this, then please stop now," she pointed out.