Yoon Jae-ok Meets Kim Jin-pyo and Park Hong-geun to Emphasize 'Bipartisan Cooperation'

To the National Assembly Speaker: "Please Create an Atmosphere of Ruling and Opposition Cooperation"
Park Hong-geun: "High Expectations for the Ruling Party Members Who Communicate Well"

Yoon Jae-ok, the newly appointed floor leader of the People Power Party, emphasized "bipartisan cooperation" on the 10th by consecutively visiting Kim Jin-pyo, the Speaker of the National Assembly, and Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

On the same day, Yoon met with Speaker Kim in the Speaker's office and said, "The 21st National Assembly has only one year left, and I think the ruling and opposition parties should spend a productive and cooperative year." He added, "If the Speaker creates an atmosphere where bipartisan cooperation can be balanced well, we will also cooperate."

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is visiting the floor leader's office of the Democratic Party of Korea at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 10th, greeting Park Hong-geun, the floor leader. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In response, Speaker Kim expressed concern about the Democratic Party directly submitting bills to the plenary session for unilateral passage, saying, "Recently, before elections, if dialogue and negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties do not go well, the number of bills passed according to the will of one negotiation group and brought to the plenary session is increasing, which worries me as the Speaker." He pointed out, "The possibility of vetoes, like with the amendment to the Grain Management Act, is increasing, which is not a proper political attitude for the people."

He continued, "From my experience in parliamentary activities, 'this much could be sufficiently agreed upon in the standing committee, so how can it be referred to the plenary session by just one negotiation group?' I think closer consultation is needed." He added, "I plan to prepare a list and give it to you. Please take a look and actively discuss it in the standing committee. Above all, I hope the two negotiation groups will have closer consultations on unresolved bills and other livelihood-related legislation."

Yoon then visited the Democratic Party floor leader's office in the National Assembly and held a meeting with Floor Leader Park. Yoon will work as a partner with Park for about a month until the next Democratic Party floor leader election is held.

At the meeting, Yoon said, "Even in the April National Assembly session, I will strive to lead from the people's perspective by communicating and cooperating with Floor Leader Park." He explained, "Now, with only one year left in the 21st National Assembly, I think we have reached a dead end where we must show the people a truly trustworthy image even in the remaining year."

Yoon also said, "If we continue on this path without any concessions as we are now, the National Assembly will be ignored by the people, and politics could head toward mutual destruction. This is an urgent situation." He added, "From now on, I will consult well with Floor Leader Park on all current issues, and if there are points where we can compromise and make concessions, we will try to produce results at those points."

Floor Leader Park also expressed expectations as a partner. Park said, "I want to say that I have high expectations to work with a ruling party floor leader who communicates well." He emphasized, "There are several issues, including the Grain Management Act, at this week's plenary session in the April National Assembly, and I believe that through sufficient communication and consultation, we can create a working National Assembly that meets the people's expectations and prioritizes livelihood issues together."