Opposition-Controlled National Assembly Puts Chu Kyung-ho in a Tough Spot on Supplementary Budget... "Will Restore Parliamentary Politics and Cooperate"

President's Press Conference "Generally Aligned"
Same Stance on Rejecting Special Prosecutors Chaesangbyeong and Kim Geonhui
"Need to Unite When Party Policy Requires"

Chu Kyung-ho, the floor leader of the ruling People Power Party who will take charge in the female-minority National Assembly, expressed his intention on the 9th to resolve the political situation through the restoration of parliamentary politics. Regarding the issue of the organization of the National Assembly, which has emerged as the biggest issue in the 22nd National Assembly, he indicated that he would try to resolve it through dialogue and negotiation in principle.

At a press briefing after his inauguration, Floor Leader Chu mentioned the background of accepting the floor leader position, which had been likened to a poisoned chalice, as well as the future direction of National Assembly operations. Responding to the 108 seats he holds in the 22nd National Assembly, he said regarding the organization issue, "Among the most urgent tasks, I have been listening well to the Democratic Party's position through the media," adding, "Parliament is about continuous dialogue, negotiation, and compromise to produce results, which is cooperation." Floor Leader Chu said, "We will engage in dialogue while respecting the opposition party and restoring parliamentary politics properly, forming a consensus to carry out the politics that the people desire." He also said, "There are many in the Democratic Party who worry about the country and are concerned about parliamentary politics and parliamentary democracy," adding, "Even if there are differences in thought and slight disagreements, we must dialogue, negotiate, and compromise to produce results."

He also shared his thoughts on challenging the floor leader position amid an unprecedented shortage of candidates. He said, "Until the 30th of last month (the day before the initial floor leader candidacy), no one specifically declared their candidacy, so I started receiving recommendations from those around me," adding, "This 22nd National Assembly is a very difficult and challenging path. The media calls it a poisoned chalice, but it was a well-prepared table, and if several lawmakers had stepped forward, I would not have." Regarding the fact that the floor leader position has consecutively come from Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK), he said, "I decided because I thought TK had to drink the poisoned chalice to overcome this situation," adding, "If this path had been a flowery road, I would have naturally thought it better for leaders from other regions to take charge."

Regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol's 2nd anniversary press conference, he said, "Overall, the president expressed basic positions on issues of interest to the media and others, and I think he spoke appropriately at the right time," adding, "I align with the president's remarks on the overall tone." On President Yoon's refusal to accept special investigations into Cha Sang-byeong or the stock manipulation allegations involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee and Deutsche Motors, he also said, "Overall, we are all in agreement."

Chu Kyung-ho, the newly appointed floor leader of the People Power Party, poses after being elected at the 22nd floor leader election winners' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Regarding the need for party discipline among ruling party lawmakers when the president exercises the veto power in the future, he suggested strengthening communication within the party as a solution. He said, "When it is necessary to gather the party's consensus and decide the party's stance, we need to communicate sufficiently in advance, and once the position is set, we must act in unison," adding, "Looking at the whole year, such demands do not occur regularly. Only occasionally in such situations do we need to gather the party's stance. Otherwise, if the ruling and opposition parties confront each other, can we really attribute great achievements or meaning?"

Regarding the schedule for the next party convention, he said, "Once the Emergency Response Committee is formed, we will have good dialogue to resolve issues," adding, "We will also collect voices from lawmakers and out-of-office committee heads."