"Opposition Party, Rushing Legislation to Shield Lee Jae-myung... Proposal for Presidential Veto"

Joo Ho-young "Temporary National Assembly entirely caused by Bangtan"
Seong Il-jong "Layered escort forces needed, Minnochoong commissioned legislation"
Yellow Envelope Act expected to be processed at the full Environment and Labor Committee meeting

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Youngwon Kim] On the 21st, the People Power Party urged the opposition to stop their legislative rampage aimed at 'shielding' Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. They pointed out that the Democratic Party is trying to block Lee's judicial risks by passing bills demanded by interest groups, and pressured Lee to abandon his immunity from arrest and accept the court's judgment.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized the submission of the partial amendment to the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act (so-called Yellow Envelope Act) to the Environment and Labor Committee plenary session at the National Assembly meeting held that day, saying, "There is a novel that says falling means having no wings, but it seems the Democratic Party's fall has no wings."

Floor leader Joo said, "The Democratic Party verbally cries out for the livelihood economy but only hinders it and is actually enacting laws that go in the opposite direction," adding, "If this law passes, it will not only be unconstitutional but also cause serious harm to our country's economy, so we plan to actively recommend the president to exercise the veto power."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He continued, "If an organization that has received over 150 billion won in budget support from government metropolitan entities over the past five years does not even keep transparent accounting or fulfill the obligation to submit books, then there is no need to protect such unions by law," and said, "Young union members also say that they need unions that solely protect workers' rights, not unions that engage in political struggles and fatten a few aristocratic union executives."

He added, "Since the temporary National Assembly opened on August 16 last year and continues until the end of this month, the National Assembly has been open for a total of 197 days without a single day off," and criticized, "The temporary National Assembly after the regular session exists entirely because of the Democratic Party's shield."

He proposed that even if the March temporary National Assembly is held, it should be scheduled to avoid the day Lee Jae-myung undergoes the warrant review.

Seong Il-jong, chairman of the Policy Committee, also said, "This bill encourages labor-management conflicts and illegal strikes in industrial sites, which would have a serious impact on the national economy," and added, "The Democratic Party is well aware that this is a 'commissioned legislation' by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which they failed to process during their five years in power."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He continued, "They are voluntarily becoming commissioned legislators for the KCTU to create a shielded escort force to protect Lee," and assessed, "As the judicial judgment on the criminal charges against Lee approaches, a layered escort force is needed, and they are extending a helping hand to the KCTU."

Chairman Seong said, "He is an opposition leader who is fearless if it helps his own safety even if it destroys the country, such as with the Grain Management Act," and demanded, "Healthy Democratic Party members, stop the forced passage of this state-destroying law that will plunge the country into chaos, even now."

Senior spokesperson Yang Geum-hee said in a statement that day, "While shouting that people's livelihoods are hanging by a thread, the Democratic Party is wasting the National Assembly's time with outside struggles, rallies, party meetings, and legislative rampages to shield Lee Jae-myung's urgent 'judicial crisis,' and now they are even more actively acting as 'Lee Jae-myung's personal law firm,'" adding, "If Lee is confident, he should abandon his immunity from arrest and boldly accept the court's judgment."