Justice Party Begins Sit-in Demanding Passage of 'Corona Loss Compensation Act'... Ryu Ho-jeong Calls It "Shameless"

Assemblywoman Ryu Hojung Sets Up Temporary Desk in Rotunda Hall for Indefinite Sit-in Protest

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Justice Party has begun a sit-in protest urging the enactment of the COVID-19 Loss Compensation Act. The expectation for the bill to pass the April National Assembly was ultimately dashed as its processing was delayed in the parliamentary standing committee. Justice Party lawmakers have entered a sit-in, demanding swift handling of the COVID-19 Loss Compensation Act.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 29th, Floor Leader Kang Eun-mi held a press conference in front of the National Assembly Rotunda Hall in the afternoon, condemning the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party.

Floor Leader Kang criticized, "If the plenary session is held today, the April extraordinary session will effectively come to an end. However, the COVID-19 Loss Compensation Act, which should be handled most urgently, has yet to even pass the threshold of the standing committee."

She pointed out, "The government is turning a blind eye, saying it cannot retroactively apply compensation for past losses, and the two major parties are blaming each other for the lack of progress in discussions, deaf to the public’s desperate cries." She added, "The public clearly remembers how, when building a new airport, the government swiftly enacted laws as if the astronomical budget was abundantly available to the state. I hope they reflect on why this reasonable bill to compensate for damages caused by the state's quarantine measures is progressing so slowly."

Photo by Justice Party

On the same day, Justice Party lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong began an indefinite sit-in protest to urge retroactive application of the COVID-19 Loss Compensation Act.

According to Lawmaker Ryu, the subcommittee on small and medium enterprises, which is reviewing the Loss Compensation Act, has not convened due to a deadlock between the Democratic Party’s position to pass the 'Act on the Promotion of Non-face-to-face Small and Medium Venture Businesses' together with the COVID-19 Loss Compensation Act, and the People Power Party’s opposition to this.

Lawmaker Ryu criticized, "Whether it’s the side insisting on bundling this bill with the Loss Compensation Act to pass it, or the side refusing to discuss them together, neither seems truly committed to the 'Loss Compensation Act'."

She then said, "From today, I will work and sleep here," starting her duties in a makeshift office set up in a corner of the Rotunda Hall.

Lawmaker Ryu stated, "It’s because they have no shame," and added, "I will continue this until the Loss Compensation Act passes the standing committee."