Yeo: Forcing Speaker Election Tomorrow, Ruling Party to "Use All Means Except Physical Force"

Jinseongjun "Temporary National Assembly to Elect Chairpersons on July 1"
Standing Committees to Be Allocated Afterwards
People Power Party "Completely Invalid... Will Block as Much as Allowed"
Emergency Meeting of Senior Members Scheduled This Afternoon for Response

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon, Kwon Hyun-ji] The Democratic Party of Korea has decided on the policy of ‘electing the Speaker of the National Assembly first, then negotiating the distribution of standing committees’ and plans to forcibly convene the July extraordinary session of the National Assembly on the 1st of next month. The Democratic Party stated that it is willing to negotiate with the People Power Party anytime before the plenary session begins. However, even a day before the National Assembly convenes, there has been no discussion of a meeting between the chief floor leaders of both parties, increasing the likelihood that the July session will open according to the ruling party’s wishes. The People Power Party indicated a strong response, calling it a "clear violation of the law."

Seong Il-jong, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, and Song Eon-seok, Senior Deputy Floor Leader, visited the office of Kim Jin-pyo, the Democratic Party candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly, in the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 30th to protest against the Democratic Party's attempt to forcibly proceed with the organization of the National Assembly. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 30th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Jin Seong-jun, the Democratic Party’s chief floor deputy leader, said on the radio on the 30th, "We plan to elect the Speaker of the National Assembly on the convening day of the extraordinary session on July 1," adding, "Additionally, our policy is to continue negotiations for the normalization of the National Assembly, such as the distribution of standing committee chairs."

Park Hong-geun, the Democratic Party floor leader, also emphasized the convening of the July extraordinary session during a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly that day, saying, "The longer the normalization of the National Assembly is delayed, the more urgent the livelihood economy and national governance become. The responsibility lies entirely with the ruling party." The Democratic Party stated that it can no longer tolerate the parliamentary vacuum that has lasted for over a month, and held a party meeting that afternoon to gather opinions on electing the Speaker, with plans to push it through at the plenary session the following day.

Lee Su-jin, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, told reporters after the meeting, "According to the National Assembly Act, once the Secretary-General of the National Assembly announces the convening, more than half of the members will attend tomorrow, fulfilling the quorum, and the process of electing a temporary chair and then the Speaker will proceed." She emphasized, "The door for negotiation with the People Power Party remains open until the plenary session begins." However, regarding a chief-level meeting, she said, "Nothing is specifically scheduled yet."

The People Power Party strongly opposed the Democratic Party’s unilateral convening of the National Assembly, calling it "null and void." They highlighted that there is no legal basis under the current National Assembly Act to hold a plenary session.

Sung Il-jong, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, is attending the current issue review meeting held at the National Assembly on the 30th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Song Eon-seok, the People Power Party chief floor deputy leader, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "This is not a matter of negotiation; the Democratic Party is saying they will hold a plenary session alone, but under the current National Assembly Act, no one has the authority to open a plenary session. It is defined as an illegal plenary session," drawing a clear line on negotiation possibilities. He criticized, "The Democratic Party claims it is possible by interpretation, but that is an over-interpretation." Regarding countermeasures if the Democratic Party pushes through the plenary session, he said, "Since it cannot be stopped by physical force, we can only keep emphasizing that any agenda processed in the illegal plenary session is null and void."

Sung Il-jong, chairman of the People Power Party Policy Committee, who presided over the current affairs inspection meeting in place of floor leader Kwon Seong-dong, said in his opening remarks, "The Democratic Party’s attempt is a clear violation of the law," urging, "Stop breaking agreements and ignoring the law to protect the ‘complete prosecution reform’ law while claiming to care about people’s livelihoods. If you truly care about the people’s livelihoods, put aside party interests and engage in unconditional negotiations for the organization of the National Assembly."

The People Power Party decided to actively respond to the Democratic Party’s push for the plenary session. On the morning of the same day, the People Power Party floor leadership visited Representative Kim’s office to protest after the meeting, but the meeting was canceled as Candidate Kim was absent. In the afternoon, they planned to hold an emergency briefing with senior party members on current issues.