Final Plenary Session Fails... Delay in Reporting Schedule for 'Lee Sang-min Dismissal Proposal'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The plenary session of the National Assembly, which had been at odds over whether to convene on the 1st, was ultimately canceled, preventing the report of the dismissal motion against Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, proposed by the Democratic Party of Korea, from being presented in the plenary session.

On the morning of the same day, Joo Ho-young of the People Power Party and Park Hong-geun of the Democratic Party of Korea met under the chairmanship of National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo to discuss whether to convene the plenary session. In the afternoon, they separately met with Speaker Kim to convey their parties' positions.

The People Power Party argued to Speaker Kim that "the plenary session should not be convened today when there are no agenda items to be processed," insisting on not convening. The Democratic Party told Speaker Kim that "the convening of the plenary session is possible depending on the Speaker's decision," and after the afternoon party caucus meeting, they visited Speaker Kim to apply strong pressure. As the ruling and opposition parties failed to reach a final agreement, Speaker Kim ultimately did not accept the Democratic Party's request to convene.

In a notice sent to lawmakers around 5:30 p.m., Floor Leader Joo stated, "Today's plenary session will not be convened," and "the emergency standby announced earlier for today is lifted." However, he added, "Please remain on emergency standby within the National Assembly premises tomorrow (the 2nd) in preparation for emergency situations such as an urgent party caucus meeting."

The Democratic Party had proposed the dismissal motion against Minister Lee the previous day to hold him accountable for the Itaewon crowd crush tragedy and planned to report the agenda at the National Assembly plenary session in the afternoon.