Kim Tae-nyeon: "Joo Ho-young insults the people by treating the president as a lawbreaker... Apologize"

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, demanded an apology from Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, who said, "There might be a situation where even a sitting president could be subject to a pardon," accusing him of insulting the people.

On the 20th, at the Supreme Council meeting, Floor Leader Kim said, "Joo Ho-young is a partner in the operation and negotiation of the National Assembly. Therefore, I have refrained from responding to each remark out of courtesy until now, but I cannot remain silent about his comment targeting President Moon yesterday."

He continued, "No matter how much I think about it, it was a statement that crossed the boundaries of political ethics and propriety," adding, "He said things that should not have been said. It is very regrettable that the leader of the main opposition party did not hesitate to make such a curse-like remark treating the sitting president as a lawbreaker. Ultimately, it is an insult to the sovereign people."

He also stated, "I want to clearly point this out as well. It would be appropriate for Floor Leader Joo Ho-young to apologize for this remark."

Floor Leader Kim said, "Prominent opposition figures are making provocative and wasteful remarks as if competing, but I ask them to maintain the dignity of politics. You must respect others to be respected."

He also expressed that if last year was a "defensive battle," this year will be an "offensive battle." He said, "It has been exactly one year since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed, and this crisis is still ongoing globally and domestically. We will renew our determination and put all our efforts into achieving final victory in the war against COVID-19, along with the recovery of people’s livelihoods and the economy. If last year was a defensive battle to protect lives and livelihoods amid the COVID-19 crisis, this year will be an offensive battle for the recovery of livelihoods and the economy."