Baek Hyunjin "My petite body steps over the People Power Party... Park Byeongseok should resign"

Protest by People Power Party Lawmakers Visiting Speaker's Office
Democratic Party's Park Chan-dae Responds, "Acting Out Like This Is Disrespectful to the People"

Speaker Park Byeong-seok heading to the plenary session amid opposition from the People Power Party
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] On the 30th, as the amendment to the Prosecutors' Office Act, known as 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecutorial investigation rights), was forcibly passed in the National Assembly plenary session led by the Democratic Party of Korea, the People Power Party criticized National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok.

People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyunjin requested to speak during the proceedings after the 'Temporary Session Term Decision' was processed and took the podium. Bae omitted the usual greeting to the Speaker that lawmakers typically give before speaking.

Bae said, "I refuse to greet the Speaker of the National Assembly, who should be independent, but blatantly acted as a member of the Democratic Party and abetted the self-destructive act of the National Assembly, expressing the will of the people in protest."

She mentioned that People Power Party lawmakers visited the Speaker's office in protest before the plenary session began, but Speaker Park refused to meet them.

She then claimed, "During that process, even though we pleaded 'Please stop,' (Speaker Park) stepped over our lawmakers with his petite body and kicked women with his shoes as he climbed up to the Speaker's seat."

She pointed at Speaker Park and said, "Is this the democracy you talk about?"

Bae demanded, "There are rumors that you are undertaking one of the largest overseas trips in history, enjoying two years of protocol rides?is this what the head of parliamentary democracy should be doing? Speaker Park should resign."

Earlier, during the People Power Party lawmakers' protest visit to the Speaker's office, clashes occurred between National Assembly officials and People Power Party lawmakers, resulting in lawmaker Yang Geum-hee falling and being stepped on, which led to the dispatch of an ambulance and rescue team.

The People Power Party plans to obtain a medical certificate regarding Yang's condition and demand a thorough investigation and punishment of those involved.

Speaker Park also stated, "People Power Party Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong said some female lawmakers were injured," and added, "We will investigate the facts and deeply regret that such an incident occurred."

After Bae's remarks, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Chan-dae requested to speak during the proceedings and took the podium, saying, "Under the Speaker's attendance, the ruling and opposition floor leaders agreed and the party caucus ratified the agreement on the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act. To completely deny this agreement and act out like this is disrespectful to the people. You should be ashamed," countering the People Power Party.