Opposition, Jeong Soon-shin's Son School Violence Hearing Unilaterally Approved

The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to hold a hearing on the school violence involving the son of lawyer Jeong Sun-shin, who was appointed and then dismissed as the head of the National Investigation Headquarters, on the 31st of this month.

On the 21st, the National Assembly's Education Committee passed three items, including the "Plan to hold a hearing for the investigation of school violence involving lawyer Jeong Sun-shin's child and the establishment of measures against school violence," during a plenary session held in the morning at the National Assembly. The official name of the hearing was decided as "Hearing for the Investigation of School Violence Involving the Child of Former National Investigation Headquarters Head Nominee Jeong Sun-shin and the Establishment of Measures Against School Violence."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On that day, members of the Education Committee from the People Power Party protested the ruling party's unilateral push of the agenda for two consecutive days and all except the ruling party's floor leader were absent.

The Education Committee had planned to pass the hearing implementation agenda at the previous plenary session, but the People Power Party requested the formation of an agenda adjustment committee, claiming the hearing was being forced without bipartisan agreement, which delayed the process. However, at the agenda adjustment committee convened that evening, ruling party members were absent, and the Democratic Party passed the hearing implementation agenda alone. Since a bill requires approval from two-thirds of the total members to be passed, and the committee was composed of two People Power Party members, three Democratic Party members, and independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae, the opposition party was able to pass the agenda unilaterally.

The People Power Party strongly opposed the procedure, citing procedural issues.

Lee Tae-gyu, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "The agenda adjustment committee was convened just three hours after the decision to convene it yesterday," adding, "The meeting was scheduled for 8 p.m., but the members' offices were notified by phone at 7:45 p.m., and a text message was sent at 8:02 p.m. It was practically a signal not to attend," strongly protesting. He criticized, "Are the ruling party members on a five-minute standby?" and demanded, "The agenda adjustment committee should be reconvened for reconsideration."

On the same day, Joo Ho-young, the floor leader, also criticized at the morning floor strategy meeting, saying, "The Democratic Party convened the agenda adjustment committee without any notification," and called the meeting invalid.

However, the Democratic Party explained that there was no procedural problem. Rather, they countered that the People Power Party was trampling on the standing committee to turn it into a political fight.

Yoo Ki-hong, chairman of the Education Committee from the Democratic Party, emphasized, "I have repeatedly stressed that the hearing must be held within March. Right after yesterday's meeting ended, I called all members to inform them that the agenda adjustment committee might be convened today, so there is no procedural defect." Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Deuk-gu also rebutted, "It is not uncommon for National Assembly schedules to be set just a few hours in advance," adding, "Lee Tae-gyu's claim is nothing but shirking responsibility and trying to block the hearing."

However, Lee Tae-gyu expressed again his opposition to holding the hearing by leaving just before the vote on the "Jeong Sun-shin child school violence hearing."

With the agenda passed solely by the Democratic Party on that day, the hearing on Jeong Sun-shin's child's school violence is scheduled to be held on the 31st. The Democratic Party plans to summon lawyer Jeong Sun-shin as a witness, and if she does not attend, they intend to call her spouse and the child involved as witnesses.