Direct Criticism with Terms like 'Concession, Collusion' in Private Remarks
Attention on Speaker's Potential Mediation Amid Diverging Views
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties met with the Speaker of the National Assembly to begin negotiations on the parliamentary organization. Before the closed-door meeting, they exchanged sharp remarks urging each other to make concessions. During the subsequent meeting, loud voices were even heard inside the conference room.
On the 12th, a five-party meeting was held at the Speaker's office in the National Assembly, involving Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, ruling party floor leader Kwon Seong-dong and senior deputy floor leader Song Eon-seok of the People Power Party, and opposition floor leader Park Hong-geun and senior deputy floor leader Jin Seong-jun of the Democratic Party of Korea.
Before the closed-door meeting, Speaker Kim said, "We have a responsibility to fasten the first button well and deliver gifts to the people suffering from difficulties in the livelihood economy," adding, "I believe the two floor leaders share the same thoughts and feelings in this regard."
Following this, Floor Leader Park said, "I hope the rock of concession continues to exist," emphasizing the ruling party's concession by stating, "As you know, Speaker Kim is a reasonable person and possesses excellent leadership capable of effectively mediating and adjusting differences between the ruling and opposition parties and among various lawmakers in the National Assembly."
He continued, "Through the fulfillment of promises and agreements, the ruling and opposition parties holding hands and showing progress in the National Assembly for the livelihood economy should be the first start of the second half of the 21st National Assembly."
Floor Leader Park added, "Since the ruling party holds infinite responsibility, if it makes generous concessions and cooperates, I believe that even today, the issue of parliamentary organization can be addressed more swiftly, as the senior deputy floor leaders of both parties have been negotiating, allowing the National Assembly to commence various legislative and other tasks."
In response, Floor Leader Kwon said, "The parliamentary organization is simple. Elect the Speaker and then elect the standing committee chairs," directly criticizing the opposition by saying, "Even if the ruling and opposition parties agree, without public consent, it is a collusion and lacks legitimacy."
He added, "This is why the so-called 'complete removal of prosecution investigation rights' (Geomsu Wanbak) lacks legitimacy. Yet, I still cannot understand why the formation of the Special Committee on Police Reform, which completes Geomsu Wanbak, should be an obstacle to the formation of standing committees," emphasizing, "Let's not just talk about livelihood concerns; let's start with forming the standing committees."
Floor Leader Kwon said, "Forming livelihood or personnel special committees before forming standing committees is putting the cart before the horse," and added, "It is not too late even now, Speaker. The Democratic Party just needs to make one more step of concession."
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