'Itaewon Disaster National Inquiry' Ju Ho-young "Consultation After Budget Approval" Park Hong-geun "Progressed Opinions"

Possibility of Opening National Investigation After Meeting with National Assembly Speaker
Ruling Party: "Will Seek Party Agreement"
Opposition: "Considering Acceptance of Sincerity Internally"

Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo is taking a commemorative photo with the floor leaders of the two major parties during the weekly meeting of the floor leaders of negotiation groups held at the Speaker's office in the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 21st. From the left, Jang Dong-hyuk, Deputy Floor Leader of the People Power Party, Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, Speaker Kim, Park Hong-geun, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party, and Jin Sung-jun, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party. 2022.11.21
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee, Hyunji Kwon] On the 21st, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said regarding the opposition parties' demand for a parliamentary inquiry into the 'Yongsan Itaewon Disaster,' "We are thinking of reaching an agreement (between the ruling and opposition parties) to conduct it after the budget is processed, and I will try to seek the party's consent."

After the party meeting that day, the ruling party, which had previously expressed its intention to abstain before the investigation results were announced, hinted at the possibility of acceptance by mentioning a specific timeline after meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly, drawing attention to whether there will be progress in the conflict over the parliamentary inquiry.

At the weekly meeting of floor leaders presided over by Speaker Kim Jin-pyo in the afternoon, Floor Leader Joo said, "I agree that a parliamentary inquiry is necessary, but the legal deadline for budget approval is December 2, and there are only about two weeks left in the regular session." He added, "Although it is uncertain whether the investigation results will be out after the budget is processed, I personally think that after understanding roughly when the interim investigation results might be announced, we can agree to hold a parliamentary inquiry after the budget is processed."

With the intention of resolving urgent tasks such as budget review and approval first and then negotiating the parliamentary inquiry, Floor Leader Joo explained, "The Democratic Party has never conducted a parliamentary inquiry unilaterally without agreement, but since there is also a burden regarding that, it would be best if we could find a way to negotiate by putting ourselves in each other's shoes."

In response, Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "The proposal to consider a parliamentary inquiry after the budget is processed is a progressive opinion and is evaluated as a forward-looking stance."

He continued, "Although the date and timing after the budget processing are not specified, it appears to be a willingness to conduct a parliamentary inquiry," and said, "If it is not an intention to just delay indefinitely, we will accept such sincerity and conduct internal review as well."

However, Floor Leader Park urged Speaker Kim to proceed with the formation of the special committee for the parliamentary inquiry by the plenary session date of the 24th, when the inquiry plan is to be processed. He said, "By tomorrow (the 22nd), the list of the special committee members should be finalized and the appointment results notified so that the committee can be convened the day after tomorrow (the 23rd) to prepare the investigation plan and submit it to the plenary session on Thursday (the 24th)." He added, "The ruling and opposition parties will try to narrow differences as much as possible, but I also request the Speaker to faithfully proceed with the procedures."

Speaker Kim said, "Even after the special committee is formed to conduct the parliamentary inquiry, a certain period is required for preparing question-and-answer materials and other processes before the actual investigation," and urged the ruling and opposition parties to cooperate, saying, "I believe that the ruling and opposition parties can reach a substantive agreement by the 24th."