Ruling and Opposition Clash at Operations Committee... Ahead of Questions on 'Chae Sang-byeong Incident' and 'Kim Gun-hee Luxury Bags'

As presidential office aides appeared before the National Assembly, the ruling and opposition parties clashed. The opposition criticized the presidential office for not preparing materials related to the work report, while the ruling party raised issues over the adoption of witnesses without bipartisan agreement, leading to intense confrontations.

Jung Jin-seok, Chief of Staff to the President, is attending the full meeting of the Steering Committee held at the National Assembly on the 1st. This Steering Committee meeting marks the first attendance of President's Office aides, including Chief of Staff Jung Jin-seok, since the opening of the 22nd National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 1st, the National Assembly Steering Committee held a plenary session at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, conducting a current affairs inquiry targeting the presidential office. Presidential aides including Chief Secretary to the President Jeong Jin-seok, Policy Chief Seong Tae-yoon, and Security Chief Jang Ho-jin attended the inquiry. This was the first time Chief Secretary Jeong, a five-term veteran lawmaker, appeared before the National Assembly to respond to opposition attacks.

As soon as the Steering Committee began, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the presidential office’s failure to prepare materials related to the work report. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Seong-jun pointed out, "They said they would give a work report, but the presidential office not only had incomplete materials but did not submit any materials at all." In response, People Power Party lawmaker Chu Kyung-ho retorted, "Since the secretary was not appointed, I have not heard anything about the progress of the meeting, including the work report."

The opposition is expected to pressure the Yoon Seok-yeol administration over current issues such as allegations of investigation interference in the death of Corporal Chae, suspicions of luxury bag acceptance by First Lady Kim Keon-hee, and East Sea oil and gas development. Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae said at the Democratic Party’s Supreme Council meeting that day, "I hope everyone watches closely the lies and hypocrisy of the Yoon administration today," adding, "There has never been a regime that deceives the people’s eyes, covers their ears, suppresses the opposition, and ends well."

This is the ruling party’s first attendance at the Steering Committee. On the 21st, the People Power Party did not attend the second Steering Committee as a protest against the formation of the National Assembly. The People Power Party maintains that it cannot agree with the opposition-led adoption of Chief Secretary Jeong and others as witnesses at the previous Steering Committee. The presidential office also plans to actively respond to sensitive issues such as the special investigation law on Corporal Chae and suspicions involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee, aiming not to lose control over state affairs. In his opening remarks, Chief Secretary Jeong said, "The government is committed to restoring the people’s economy and reforms for our future," adding, "We will carefully ensure that the government’s efforts lead to tangible changes in people’s lives."