People Power Party Lawmakers Walk Out Together, Abstain from Vote
Ruling Party: "Approving the Report Undermines the Authority of the National Assembly"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The special committee on the Itaewon disaster national investigation, which was adopted solely by the three opposition parties, was passed in the National Assembly plenary session on the 30th despite the ruling party's absence.
In the National Assembly plenary session held that afternoon, the vote on the Itaewon disaster national investigation special committee's report resulted in unanimous approval with all 158 members present voting in favor. The People Power Party members, who had collectively walked out during the vote on the amendment to the Grain Management Act held just before, did not participate in this vote either.
Earlier, the Itaewon disaster national investigation special committee adopted the report solely by the three opposition parties on the 17th. Members from the ruling party left the meeting in protest against the opposition's filing of perjury charges against Minister Lee and others. The ruling party, having left the meeting and not participating in the vote, stated in opposition debate that "approving a report with several issues undermines the authority of the National Assembly itself."
The ruling party particularly opposed the inclusion of the filing of charges against Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min during the adoption process of the special committee's report.
Woo Sang-ho, the special committee chairman from the Democratic Party of Korea, explained in his proposal, "We urged the immediate dismissal of Minister Lee, personnel actions against those responsible for the disaster, and a sincere apology to the victims and their families. We requested a report to the National Assembly on disciplinary actions against related parties through thorough audits by each institution and concrete improvement plans for the issues revealed during the national investigation process." He added, "We proposed the establishment of an independent investigative body and a special disaster safety committee at the National Assembly level to enhance safety and improve the government's disaster response capabilities."
Ruling and opposition party members clashed in the plenary session through debates for and against the adoption of the report.
Park Hyung-soo, a People Power Party member, expressed opposition during the debate. He said, "The Democratic Party unilaterally passed a report they arbitrarily drafted. The report, which was relatively neutrally prepared by the special committee's administrative office, was freely edited by the Democratic Party and adopted by majority power. To secure the legitimacy of democracy and majority rule, the opportunity for minority opinions and sufficient debate must be guaranteed, but the unilateral adoption without any debate is a significant procedural flaw."
Park also pointed out the perjury charges against Minister Lee, stating, "The Democratic Party's insistence on filing perjury charges, which do not even align with legal principles, appears to be solely aimed at achieving political objectives by accusing government officials. Approving such a flawed report undermines the authority of the National Assembly and exposes its ignorance."
Following him, Oh Young-hwan, a Democratic Party member, countered, saying, "The public is greatly angered by the government's shameless attitude that does not empathize with the October 29 disaster and the special investigation unit's scapegoating investigation." He added, "Ahead of the adoption of the report, which contains the people's wishes, the ruling party once again shows a shameless attitude by opposing the adoption and neglecting its duties." He insisted that President Yoon Suk-yeol should personally meet the bereaved families, apologize, and dismiss Minister Lee.
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