Park Hong-geun "If People Power Party Does Not Accept, Their Qualification Will Be Questioned"
Plan to Vote on Grain Management Act and Others in Plenary Session
Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed on the 23rd that both ruling and opposition parties jointly issue a protest statement regarding claims made by Japanese broadcasters that the Dokdo issue was raised during the Korea-Japan summit.
At a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Park said, "We can no longer tolerate the situation where even matters that are not subject to discussion are being raised as issues," and added, "I officially propose to the ruling party leadership, including Kim Ki-hyun, party leader of the People Power Party, and Joo Ho-young, floor leader, to issue a protest statement jointly in the name of the members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea regarding the false reports by Japanese media about Dokdo."
He pointed out, "Japanese media, including the public broadcaster NHK, claim that the 'Dokdo issue was mentioned' during the Korea-Japan summit," and said, "This is equivalent to invading the territory of the Republic of Korea as defined by our constitution with 'fake news.'"
Park also mentioned that the Japanese Mainichi Shimbun claimed that the chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union requested President Yoon Suk-yeol to import sea squirts from Bonsan, and that a presidential office official blocked video recording at that time. He criticized, "Since the Korea-Japan summit, Japanese media have been continuously releasing news that stirs controversy. This is why every day there is only a 'truth game' surrounding the reports."
He emphasized, "Regarding any diplomatic disputes and provocations from the Japanese side toward Dokdo, we must firmly and clearly raise national and public counterarguments," and added, "Since the president neglects the constitutional duty of 'territorial preservation,' the constitutional institution, the National Assembly, has no choice but to step in and correct this."
He said, "If the leadership of the People Power Party does not respond to this proposal, they should keep in mind that their legitimacy and qualifications as members of the National Assembly representing the people will be questioned," and stated that he would wait for a prompt response from the People Power Party leadership.
Meanwhile, regarding the Grain Management Act, which has been submitted to the plenary session but has not yet undergone a vote, Park said, "We will definitely pass it in today's plenary session," and added, "You are well aware of how much patience the Democratic Party has shown to reach a consensus on this law." He explained, "This amendment does not mean that the state will compulsorily purchase surplus rice, but rather that the government will have an obligation to purchase rice once certain criteria are met. Therefore, by properly supporting the cultivation of other crops such as soybeans, wheat, and forage crops in advance, the rice production area will be reduced and the food self-sufficiency rate will be increased." In addition, bills such as the Nursing Act, which were discussed in the Welfare Committee, are also scheduled to undergo the submission and voting procedures in the plenary session.
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