Heated Debate Over January Extraordinary Session
Opposition: "Ruling Party Neglects Crisis, Ignores Responsibility"
Ruling Party: "This Is Definitely a Bulletproof National Assembly"
[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok, Park Joon-yi, Geum Bo-ryeong] On the eve of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, being summoned by the prosecution, the Democratic Party launched a fierce attack on the current government citing livelihood and security issues. The People Power Party countered by calling the convening of the January extraordinary session of the National Assembly a ‘shielding session’ for Lee.
On the 9th, Chung Jin-seok, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, said at the party’s emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly, "Until now, I thought the Democratic Party was held hostage by Lee, but at this point, the Democratic Party must also be regarded as an accomplice who has taken the National Assembly and livelihood hostage along with Lee," adding, "I hope Lee refrains from mentioning livelihood and security when he appears before the prosecution tomorrow."
Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, also pointed out, "The extraordinary session of the National Assembly, convened unilaterally by the Democratic Party to shield Lee and lawmaker Roh Woong-rae, began its session today," and said, "If the extraordinary session had not started today, the arrest warrant review for lawmaker Roh would have proceeded without consent for arrest, but since the session began, and considering that he is scheduled to appear tomorrow, it is undoubtedly a shielding session."
Regarding the Democratic Party’s demand to hold a plenary session of the National Assembly for urgent questioning on North Korea’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) issue, Joo criticized, "Urgent questioning has not been conducted without agreement among negotiation groups until now," and added, "(Holding an open-form urgent questioning) is no different from publicly disclosing important military secrets such as our weapon systems and systems for UAV defense."
In response to Democratic Party spokesperson Park Sung-jun’s comment that sending our UAVs in response to North Korea’s UAV provocations constitutes a violation of the armistice agreement by infringing on airspace, the People Power Party rebutted. Chairman Chung said, "They are representing North Korea’s claims," and raised his voice, "The Democratic Party must choose whether to respond across party lines against North Korea’s provocations or continue to remain Kim Jong-un’s spokesperson." Floor leader Joo also criticized, "Not criticizing North Korea’s violation of the armistice and accepting it as is, while only telling us not to violate it if there is suspicion, is nothing but the Democratic Party’s intention to tie our hands and let North Korea run rampant."
Lee Jae-myung Launches Fierce Attack Calling the Government a "Disastrous Regime" and a "Pupa Regime"
On the other hand, the Democratic Party launched a full-scale offensive highlighting the Yoon Seok-youl administration’s failures, including the military’s failure to respond to North Korea’s UAVs. At the Democratic Party’s Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Lee said, "From the beginning of the new year, South Korea has faced a national crisis," adding, "Major corporate earnings have sharply deteriorated, and the triple hardship of high inflation, reduced consumption, and sluggish manufacturing is accelerating the economic recession. On top of this, a shocking security disaster has occurred." Lee pointed out, "The two pillars of the nation?livelihood and security?are being shaken to their roots," and criticized, "It can truly be called a disastrous regime."
Lee said, "There is a saying in the market that ‘this regime is like a pupa regime,’" and added, "People say it is shameless, helpless, and outrageous. How bad must it be for such words to come out?" He condemned, "Even if they deceive the people with lies and suppress the opposition with power, their incompetence and irresponsibility cannot be hidden," and urged, "I hope they completely overhaul the national policy direction and reorganize the presidential office and cabinet to show their will for change through action."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
Despite the controversy over the shielding session, the Democratic Party emphasized the necessity of convening the January extraordinary session. Lee said, "We must prepare solutions for the livelihood economy, which is in the worst crisis, and accelerate discussions on sunset laws that have stalled since last year," adding, "In particular, we will strictly investigate the regime’s destruction and disorder of national principles, which failed in both the economy and operations and tried to cover up the disaster."
Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said, "The People Power Party is closing the doors of the National Assembly and thinking only about resting," and added, "If the People Power Party neglects the crisis and their responsibilities as the ruling party, the Speaker of the National Assembly and committee chairs will decisively open the National Assembly’s doors." Park held a separate press briefing that day demanding the holding of the January extraordinary session plenary meeting.
Regarding the UAV controversy, Park said, "North Korea’s UAVs penetrated the capital’s airspace and the presidential office’s sky fence, but the government and ruling party rejected urgent questioning in the plenary session and are only preoccupied with the failed Yoon-centered air defense," adding, "We cannot leave the defense minister, who failed in military readiness and operations, as well as the government and presidential office’s security command line, as is. President Yoon, as the commander-in-chief, must strictly reprimand them."
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