'6-term' Jo Jeong-sik: "National Assembly paralyzed due to Yoon's frequent vetoes... Must be corrected"

"Law Committee and Steering Committee Should Be Taken by the Democratic Party"

Cho Jung-sik, a six-term member of the Democratic Party of Korea who has announced his candidacy for Speaker of the National Assembly, argued that "the reason for the paralysis of the 21st National Assembly lies in the president's indiscriminate use of veto power, so it is important to correct this in the 22nd National Assembly."

On the 24th, Cho said on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "the next Speaker of the National Assembly must uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Korea and the principles of democracy, and properly fulfill the legislative branch's role of checking and balancing the administrative power and Yongsan power." He added, "For the National Assembly to be productive, plenary sessions must be convened when necessary to process bills submitted by both ruling and opposition parties," emphasizing, "If I become Speaker, I will convene plenary sessions on my own authority to handle urgent issues."

Assemblyman Jo Jeong-sik of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

He also stated, "Another reason the 21st National Assembly experienced numerous disruptions and pains was the indiscriminate raids by the political prosecution dictatorship," and expressed concern that "after the general election, opposition party elected members might be oppressed under the pretext of the election law, nullifying the public's will expressed in the election."

Regarding his competitors, former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Representative Jung Sung-ho, he said, "They emphasize clarity and flexibility, and I also possess all those strengths," adding, "I am someone who fights when necessary, applies pressure when needed, and always produces results."

On the issue of committee assignments, he said, "The key standing committees of the National Assembly, such as the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Steering Committee, should naturally be held by the Democratic Party, which was confirmed as the majority party in the general election," and added, "The reason the National Assembly has been criticized and paralyzed until now is because of the president's veto power and the ruling party's Judiciary Committee chairman dragging things out." He further stated, "If I am elected Speaker, I will set a deadline for the election of committee chairpersons," adding, "It should not go beyond June at the latest, and if no consensus is reached between the ruling and opposition parties, a plenary session must be convened to elect them by vote."