Jin Jeong-seok: "Let's Form a Senior Lawmakers' Consultative Body Between Ruling and Opposition Parties... Lee Jae-myung, Please Accept This Only" (Comprehensive)

"Let's Discuss 7 Major Bills Through the Ruling and Opposition Parties' Livelihood Economy Council"
"If Cooperation Is Possible, We Can Accept Passing Over the Ruling Party Leader"
"Honestly Confessing and Apologizing for Our Shortcomings"

Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is delivering a negotiation group representative speech at the National Assembly plenary session on the 29th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kwon Hyun-ji] Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, referred to the ‘Senior Lawmakers Consultative Body’ proposed by National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and requested, "I ask Representative Lee Jae-myung to at least open his heart and accept this." He also defined the current regular session of the National Assembly as South Korea’s first response meeting against a global historical challenge and proposed forming a bipartisan livelihood economy consultative body to discuss the non-contentious bills among the ‘7 major bills’ proposed by the opposition party. While hinting at the possibility of a ‘summit meeting’ requested by Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, he apologized for the internal strife within the ruling party.

◆ "Let’s discuss non-contentious livelihood bills first"

Chairman Jeong outlined his vision for livelihood solutions and bipartisan cooperation through a representative speech titled ‘The Great Challenge of Global Order Restructuring, the Path of Response is South Korea’s Great Transformation.’ This was based on the recognition that without cooperation in the ‘minority ruling, majority opposition’ situation, the Yoon Seok-youl administration’s national agenda cannot be advanced.

Chairman Jeong said, "The National Assembly will inevitably maintain an extreme minority ruling, majority opposition situation for nearly two more years," adding, "No matter how much the government and ruling party want to work, they cannot do so properly without cooperation with the opposition."

Regarding the senior lawmakers consultative body, he said, "I hope it will be formed as soon as possible so that both sides can put their heads together," emphasizing, "The constitutional amendment, election law revision, and relinquishment of parliamentary privileges proposed by Representative Lee in his party negotiation group speech can be thoroughly discussed through this body."

Chairman Jeong proposed prioritizing discussion of non-contentious livelihood bills during the regular session. He criticized the opposition’s ‘7 major livelihood bills’ as "many populist bills that do not align with the spirit of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea." However, he added, "If we take a step back and examine them, there are bills that share the intent of those promoted by our party," expressing hope that "wisdom can be gathered focusing on bills with relatively fewer disputes or those that can be placed on the table together."

Along with this, he proposed to the government and opposition the establishment of a convergent new growth economic special zone to drive South Korea’s international competitiveness. The aim is to move away from the capital region-centered economic system and create a new growth engine centered on local regions.

◆ Apology for internal strife over the Lee Jun-seok incident

Chairman Jeong bowed his head and apologized for the recent internal strife within the party, including the ‘Lee Jun-seok incident,’ at the start of his speech. He said, "Before blaming the disorder of the skewed parliamentary power, as the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the ruling party, I honestly confess and apologize for our shortcomings," emphasizing, "We will change with a new determination."

Chairman Jeong then referred to the current crisis, sharply criticizing the previous administration by saying, "The shadow of the lost five years is too dark and too deep." He criticized, "The excessive regulations and taxes increased by the Moon Jae-in administration have greatly reduced private sector vitality," adding, "Growth potential has fallen from the 3% range to the 2% range, and reckless nuclear phase-out policies have caused enormous burdens across the energy market." He also mentioned the weakening of the Korea-US alliance and deterioration of Korea-Japan relations, saying, "Our diplomatic standing has noticeably diminished," and stressed, "The Yoon Seok-youl administration and People Power Party’s national policy shift must start with correcting these mistakes."

He particularly raised his voice against the Democratic Party, which holds the majority of seats, saying, "They are wielding the last remaining parliamentary power to obstruct national governance at every turn." Referring to the Daejang-dong scandal, he argued, "The judiciary should handle judicial matters, and the National Assembly should focus on its own work; this is the only way for South Korea and the Democratic Party to survive."

Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is greeting before delivering the floor leader's speech at the National Assembly plenary session on the 29th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

◆ "If the president meets the opposition leader, I accept ruling party being bypassed"

He expressed a positive stance on a meeting between the president and the opposition leader. Chairman Jeong said, "I see no reason why the president and the leader of the majority party in the National Assembly cannot meet anytime. There is no need to be bound by the form of the meeting," emphasizing, "As long as cooperation is properly achieved, I can fully accept the ruling party leader being bypassed." Representative Lee proposed a summit meeting to President Yoon after being elected leader, but the presidential office responded that it would be possible "after the situation between the ruling and opposition parties stabilizes."

Regarding the recent controversy over President Yoon’s remarks, he criticized MBC as a "pawn of partisanship." He said, "The president is fighting fiercely on the diplomatic battlefield with the country’s future at stake, yet a Korean media outlet is engaging in flagrant misconduct in reporting," raising his voice, "Even now, MBC must correct its erroneous reporting and apologize profusely to the public."