Democratic Party: "People Power Party, Stop Delaying the Sejong Assembly Hall Act... Must Pass It This Week"

Yoon Ho-jung, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The Democratic Party of Korea demanded that the People Power Party pass the bill to establish the National Assembly Sejong Office Building at this week's plenary session of the National Assembly.

On the 23rd, Yoon Ho-jung, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting, "Yesterday, Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, held an emergency press conference and said he plans to create a legal basis for the establishment of a branch office of the National Assembly related to the Sejong Office Building," adding, "He did not say it would be processed at the August plenary session, and it is just an indefinite plan. I don't know what that means. I hope it is not the usual stalling tactic that the People Power Party has often used."

He continued, "Since the time of former floor leaders Kim Tae-nyeon and Joo Ho-young, they have only endlessly repeated requests to wait, saying internal arrangements have not been made. The people of Chungcheong Province have already been hurt many times by the People Power Party's stalling," and said, "The opposition party's false hope must end. We will now bring this to a close. We repeatedly urge them to cooperate magnanimously in passing the bill at this week's plenary session."

Han Jun-ho, spokesperson for the Democratic Party floor, also issued a written briefing that day, stating, "The Democratic Party of Korea will not compromise with the People Power Party's stalling and will keep the promise made to the people regarding the establishment of the Sejong Office Building."

He said, "The budget of 14.7 billion won for the establishment of the Sejong Office Building was passed last December through bipartisan agreement. The transcript of the National Assembly Steering Committee on April 27 clearly contains the promise to pass the special law for the Sejong Office Building by June. However, the responsibility for the failure to process the bill by the end of August lies with the People Power Party."

He added, "A bill to amend the National Assembly Act for the establishment of a branch office in Sejong City was already proposed by People Power Party lawmaker Jeong Jin-seok. Nevertheless, the intention to newly prepare a legal basis for the establishment of the branch office now is actually a way of saying 'we will not process it at the August plenary session.' It is nothing but the People Power Party's trademark 'stalling tactic,'" he criticized.

The spokesperson emphasized, "The Democratic Party of Korea will definitely keep the promise made to the people regarding the establishment of the Sejong Office Building. To prevent any more harm to the people caused by the People Power Party's stalling, we will do our best to conclude the establishment of the Sejong Office Building at the August National Assembly session."