Woo Sang-ho "Yoon Government's Administrative Chaos Goes Too Far"... Sharp Criticism Toward Kwon Seong-dong

Police Superintendent Personnel, Confusion Over Revision of 52-Hour Workweek System, and Prosecutor General Vacancy Cited as Disorder

Woo Sang-ho, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, holds a press briefing at the National Assembly on the 26th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] Woo Sang-ho, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, on the 26th regarding the negotiations for the second half of the National Assembly's organization. At the same time, he also pointedly remarked that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's governance confusion has gone too far.

At a regular press briefing held at the National Assembly that day, Chairman Woo said, "I was dumbfounded to see the ruling party's floor leader, who is responsible for normalizing the National Assembly, reject a proposal that the majority of opposition lawmakers had agreed upon at a workshop in less than an hour," adding, "The opposition expressed some willingness to compromise, but seeing the ruling party refuse any concessions and kick away the normalization of the National Assembly makes me doubt whether the ruling party truly intends to take care of people's livelihoods."

Earlier, Chairman Woo commented on Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, announcing that he would concede the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to the ruling party on the condition of forming a special committee on judicial reform, saying, "The current governance confusion is being addressed with policy alternatives from the opposition, and the majority opinion at the workshop was to fight using the National Assembly as the stage, which led to this proposal."

In response, Chairman Woo directed his remarks at Floor Leader Kwon, saying, "I was also a floor leader, and while I have seen amended proposals before, I find it absurd to reject proposals outright without any amendments," adding, "If the National Assembly is not normalized due to the ruling party's rejection, how will the public evaluate the ruling party? Since Floor Leader Park said he would wait, I hope to receive an answer soon, within today or tomorrow."

Chairman Woo also sharply criticized the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's governance. He pointed out, "The confusion and chaos in governance have gone beyond limits," and "Shocking incidents that could not be found in the early stages of past administrations keep occurring." Examples of governance confusion included the reversal of police security chief personnel appointments, confusion over the Ministry of Employment and Labor's revision of the 52-hour workweek system, and the vacancy in the Prosecutor General position.

In particular, regarding police personnel, Chairman Woo said, "It is shocking that the president of a country declares that a national disciplinary incident has occurred within the government but neither investigates the details nor discloses them," emphasizing, "Since the term 'national disciplinary incident' was used, it seems there was a shocking event, and if the government does not clarify the truth, shouldn't the National Assembly conduct a state audit?"

He also viewed President Yoon Seok-yeol's morning 'door-stepping' as problematic. Chairman Woo said, "The president's language during door-stepping is rough and conclusive, which is concerning," adding, "It appears as a problem of national confusion."