"No Return Without Apology"... Ruling Party Sticks to Absence from Plenary Session

Repeated Apology Demanded from Kim Byung-joo for 'Lost His Mind' Remark
Choo Kyung-ho: "Will Filibuster If Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Bill Is Forced"
On Impeachment Motion Against Lee Jae-myung's Investigating Prosecutor, "Impeachment Addiction"

The People Power Party (PPP) is maintaining its stance to boycott the government questioning session on economic issues held at the National Assembly plenary session on the 3rd. This is due to their refusal to apologize for a remark made by Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker Kim Byung-joo the previous day, in which he called PPP lawmakers "crazy." However, they reiterated their plan to respond with a filibuster if the opposition-led plenary session proceeds and the special investigation law on Chae Sang-byung is pushed forward.

On the morning of the same day, PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho held a press briefing at the National Assembly and stated, "Whether we attend the government questioning session at the plenary depends primarily on an apology from lawmaker Kim Byung-joo before the session." He added, "Without an apology, it will be difficult for us to participate in the plenary session."

Earlier, during the 4th plenary session's government questioning on politics, diplomacy, unification, and security held the previous afternoon, lawmaker Kim asked Prime Minister Han Duck-soo about his thoughts on the Korea-Japan alliance. Prime Minister Han responded that while the Korea-US alliance is being strengthened, the Korea-Japan alliance faces public opposition and requires an agreement, so it is not a matter to discuss in detail. He added that cooperation where possible between Korea and Japan is appropriate.

Following this, lawmaker Kim expressed agreement with Prime Minister Han's remarks and criticized the PPP for mentioning the Korea-US-Japan alliance in a statement on the 2nd of last month, saying, "Japan is a country with territorial ambitions, so how can the PPP think of forming an alliance with Japan?" He called PPP lawmakers "crazy." PPP spokesperson Ho Joon-seok had issued a statement on the 2nd of last month titled "North Korea's continuous low-level provocations only strengthen the Korea-US-Japan alliance," in response to North Korea's release of sewage balloons.

PPP lawmakers demanded an apology from lawmaker Kim, but he refused. As voices escalated among lawmakers, Deputy Speaker Joo Ho-young called for a recess, and PPP lawmakers reiterated their refusal to return, causing the schedule to fall apart.

People Power Party Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho is holding a press briefing on current issues at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The opposition planned to handle the special investigation law on Chae Sang-byung during the plenary session that day, but since the PPP is maintaining its boycott until lawmaker Kim apologizes, there is a possibility that the plenary session itself may not convene. The National Defense Committee, where lawmaker Kim serves as the opposition floor whip, canceled its full meeting scheduled for the 3rd. The meeting was supposed to include reports and updates from the Ministry of National Defense, Military Manpower Administration, and Defense Acquisition Program Administration. Both ruling and opposition parties were also planning to appoint floor whips and form subcommittees.

However, if the plenary session is convened under the leadership of the Democratic Party and the special investigation law on Chae Sang-byung is forcibly passed, the PPP plans to respond with a filibuster. The PPP views the Democratic Party's attempt to pass the special investigation law on the 3rd, following the referral of four impeachment motions?including those related to suspicions of preferential treatment in Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong and allegations of North Korean remittances involving Ssangbangwool?against former DPK leader Lee Jae-myung to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee the previous day, as an abuse of power by the dominant opposition party.

Regarding the special investigation law on Chae Sang-byung, they stated, "There is no precedent for placing a bill on the agenda during government questioning. The Speaker of the National Assembly is aware of this, and the Democratic Party is also aware of the situation." They emphasized, "Despite our strong protest yesterday, if the Democratic Party and the Speaker forcibly place the special investigation law on the agenda, we will strongly protest and, if it proceeds, respond with a filibuster."

Moreover, the PPP raised their voices again on the same day, accusing the Democratic Party of being "addicted to impeachment." Floor leader Choo criticized, "The Democratic Party has proposed impeachment motions 13 times in the past two years, showing an addiction to impeachment." He added, "The Democratic Party has destroyed the existence of the National Assembly from the start of the 22nd National Assembly solely to protect former leader Lee, and their legislative abuse to shield him has gone too far."

Chu Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending a press briefing on current issues held at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@