Public Safety Committee Deadlocks on 250,000 Won Support Law for All Citizens... "Lee Jae-myung's Order" vs "People's Order"

Joeunhee "The Essence Is Lee Jae-myung's Constitutional Law"
People Power Party Lawmakers Protest and Then Exit

On the 18th, during the meeting of the Administrative Safety Committee held at the National Assembly, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the 'Special Measures Act to Overcome the Livelihood Crisis,' which includes providing 250,000 KRW in livelihood recovery support funds to all citizens, exchanging remarks such as "Is this an order from former leader Lee Jae-myung?" and "It is a command from the people."

On the 18th, members of the People Power Party protested Chairman Shin Jeong-hoon about the unilateral agenda progress during the full meeting of the Public Administration and Security Committee held at the National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Jo Eun-hee, the ruling party's secretary of the Administrative Safety Committee, said at the meeting, "Why is this bill being pushed forward when all ministries, including the main ministry, are on emergency standby due to the heavy rain warning and the risk of landslides in the metropolitan area?" She added, "Is there a reason it must be done urgently? Is this a command from the people or an order from former leader Lee?" She also pointed out, "There was no agreement on any schedule between the ruling and opposition secretaries. The bill subcommittee review was skipped," and criticized, "Why are the side effects and problems being ignored? This is an ultra-constitutional bill that forcibly uses at least 13 trillion KRW of taxpayers' money."

Furthermore, Representative Jo stated, "The essence of this special law is the Lee Jae-myung constitutional law, which aims to glorify only former leader Lee by borrowing national debt with taxpayers' money," and added, "Is the Administrative Safety Committee now a Democratic Party-only committee? Please stop conducting independent meetings and have the chairperson operate neutrally."

In response, Lee Sang-sik of the Democratic Party retorted, "There were complaints that local district lawmakers should be attending to their districts rather than being at the National Assembly," but added, "However, there is a more important matter. Today's heavy rain will eventually stop, but I believe the pain and difficulties of people's livelihoods will continue." He emphasized, "We are talking about former leader Lee now, but we are not giving the livelihood recovery support funds to Lee Jae-myung personally, right? We intend this to be a primer that brings even a little warmth to people's livelihoods. I believe it is appropriate to proceed with the procedures here today."

Baek Jun-young of the People Power Party refuted the Democratic Party's claim that the special law is a command from the people, citing public opinion polls. Baek said, "Let me say it again. This bill is a constitutional law for former leader Lee," and added, "They say it is a command from the people, but in recent polls, 51% of the public opposed the 250,000 KRW support, while 43% supported it. How is this a command from the people? It is an order from former leader Lee."

Park Jung-hyun of the Democratic Party said, "I don't understand why our party's livelihood bill is being politicized as Lee Jae-myung's bill," and asked, "If that's the case, why do you oppose the special investigation law for Chae Sang-byung, which nearly 70% of the public supports? Are you opposing it because you are afraid of President Yoon Seok-youl?" She then requested Representative Jo, the ruling party's secretary, "As a second-term lawmaker, please maintain some dignity," and added, "A first-term lawmaker is speaking now. Shouldn't you cut some slack?" In response, Representative Jo replied, "I will maintain dignity if you stop making absurd remarks."

On the 18th, seats of the People Power Party members who protested against the agenda progress by Chairman Shin Jeong-hoon and left the plenary meeting of the Administrative Safety Committee held at the National Assembly are empty. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

As tensions between the ruling and opposition parties escalated, Shin Jeong-hoon, chair of the Administrative Safety Committee, intervened, saying, "This meeting is worse than a village residents' meeting," and attempted mediation. Regarding the ruling party's characterization of the special law as "an order from former leader Lee," he said, "I think this is a remark that seriously damages the dignity of the committee members," and emphasized, "Please conduct the meeting with mutual respect." However, ruling party lawmakers continued to object, saying, "Isn't it true that former leader Lee proposed this?" and eventually left the meeting room.