"Consensus on the Need for a Parliamentary Semiconductor Special Committee to Become a Science and Technology Hegemony"
"Party-affiliated Chairpersons Are Unfavored by Industry and Academia"
During Song Young-gil's Leadership, Democratic Party's Semiconductor Special Committee Chair Replaced After One Month... Felt a Sense of Self-Disgust
"Hope the Comment 'What Kind of Rookie Is the Chair?' Never Comes Up Again"
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Yang Hyang-ja, a former Democratic Party lawmaker and currently an independent serving as the chairperson of the People Power Party's Special Committee on Strengthening Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness, said on the 7th, "It is much more efficient and productive for me to approach the semiconductor industry competitiveness strengthening special committee as an independent (chairperson)."
She explained that this is because the work of the semiconductor special committee requires a neutral stance without political bias. At the same time, it appears that the scope of activities as chairperson is less restricted when acting as an independent rather than being affiliated with a specific party.
Yang recalled that last year, during Song Young-gil’s tenure as party leader, she served as the chairperson of the Democratic Party’s semiconductor special committee but was unilaterally replaced after just one month, saying on this day, "I felt a sense of self-disgust." Afterward, the chairpersonship of the Democratic Party’s semiconductor special committee passed to five-term lawmaker Byun Jae-il.
Yang Hyang-ja, Chairperson of the Special Committee on Strengthening Competitiveness in the Semiconductor Industry, is delivering a greeting at the 1st meeting of the Special Committee on Strengthening Competitiveness in the Semiconductor Industry held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
On the same day, Yang appeared on CBS Radio’s "Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show" and said, "People in industry and academia are very reluctant when the special committee or its chairperson is affiliated with a political party because it reveals political colors," responding to the question of whether she plans to join the People Power Party and take the chairperson role.
Yang said, "Since I, as an independent, am chairing the committee, people from various sectors are showing interest and have hope that this time we can do it properly," emphasizing, "It is not important which party I work with now. I intend to focus on whether South Korea can properly become a scientific hegemony nation."
Yang also gained attention in April for playing a casting vote role during the Democratic Party’s passage of the "complete removal of prosecution’s investigative authority" (Geomsu Wanbak) bill. The Democratic Party attempted to replace Yang in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to pass the bill, but she refused, causing some confusion within the party. Eventually, lawmaker Min Hyung-bae left the party and as an independent disabled the agenda adjustment committee, allowing the Geomsu Wanbak bill to pass. Yang stated about this, "I thought it should not be rushed through. I still have no regrets," maintaining a consistent stance.
Regarding calls for innovation within the Democratic Party, Yang said, "I hope this becomes an opportunity for the Democratic Party to be reborn as an innovative party," explaining the circumstances under which she stepped down as chairperson of the Democratic Party’s semiconductor special committee after just one month last year.
She said, "I agreed to give roles to senior lawmakers," adding, "So I conceded, but I think such things should never happen again. To be clear, I hope remarks like 'How can a first-term lawmaker be chairperson?' are never made again."
When asked by the host if she stepped down because senior lawmakers insisted the chairperson should be a senior member, Yang replied, "I never heard that directly, and it was so strange that I went to ask the party leader at the time." She recalled, "But the consoling words I received were, 'The real estate special committee was even worse.' At that time, I felt quite a sense of self-disgust." The party leader then was former leader Song Young-gil.
When asked if she would like to return to the Democratic Party in the distant future if it innovates and reforms, Yang answered, "I want to help the Democratic Party from outside, and if I am called upon to join the path of innovation, I think that is the way for the country and the people." Asked if she would accept an invitation for innovation, she said, "Yes. Because I believe that is the path for the country, I would not refuse that opportunity and would go."
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