"All Are Bastards"... Park Ji-won Apologizes for Insulting Kim Jin-pyo

"Regardless of the Reason, It Was Inappropriate Conduct"
Opposition: "Chairman Kim Must Push for a Vote in the Plenary Session"

Park Ji-won, the elected member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea, apologized on the 1st after using abusive language towards National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, President Yoon Seok-yeol, and former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok.

On the 1st, Park posted on his Facebook, stating, “There was no opening remark, so I was unaware that the broadcast had started and spoke inappropriately, and that content was aired as is,” adding, “Regardless of the reason, I sincerely apologize to the parties involved, viewers, and the public for my inappropriate remarks.”

Earlier that day, Park appeared on the YouTube channel ‘Kim Eo-jun’s Humility is Difficult News Factory’ and, while urging the convening of the plenary session on the 2nd, said, “Park Byeong-seok, Kim Jin-pyo, and Yoon Seok-yeol are all the same guys,” and used abusive language, saying, “They are really damn bastards.”

This reflected strong dissatisfaction with Speaker Kim, who is from the Democratic Party, waiting for bipartisan agreement while the opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, were demanding votes on the special prosecutor law for Chae Sang-byeong, the special law for the Itaewon disaster, and the special law for jeonse fraud during the May extraordinary session of the National Assembly.

Democratic Party of Korea Elected Representative Park Ji-won [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding Speaker Kim, who resigned from the Democratic Party upon assuming the position of National Assembly Speaker, Park also claimed, “If that is the case, he should not be allowed to rejoin the Democratic Party after his term as Speaker ends.” He continued with strong remarks such as, “I should have been the Speaker,” and “Representative Woo Sang-ho should have been the Speaker.”

On the same day, opposition parties repeatedly stated, “Even if the People Power Party opposes, Speaker Kim should submit the key agenda items such as the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law to the plenary session on the 2nd and put them to a vote.”

Woo Won-sik, a Democratic Party member running for the next National Assembly Speaker election, said on Facebook, “Finding what is right for the people is the attitude of a Speaker who serves the public sentiment,” and argued, “There is a responsibility to fulfill the demands of the people confirmed by the general election until the end of the 21st National Assembly’s term.”

Hwang Un-ha, floor leader of the Innovation Party for Justice, urged at a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office, “May’s extraordinary session is the Speaker’s time,” and called on him to “exercise the Speaker’s authority.” He pressured Speaker Kim by saying, “Open the plenary session on the 2nd and handle the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecutor law, the Itaewon disaster special law, and the jeonse fraud special law.”

Meanwhile, Park was elected in the 22nd National Assembly representing the Jeonnam, Haenam, Wando, and Jindo districts, achieving his fifth term and becoming the oldest member ever elected from a district at the age of 81 in the history of the National Assembly.