Woo Won-sik "Yoon's Absence from Policy Speech Violates Citizens' Rights"... Criticism from Ruling Party Too

Prime Minister Reads Presidential Policy Speech for First Time in 11 Years
Speaker Woo: "President Has Duty to Report to the People"
Opposition Holds Placard Protest Condemning Yoon's Consecutive Absence from National Assembly
Ruling Party Also Dissatisfied with Yoon's Absence from Policy Speech
Han Dong-hoon: "I Think It's Regrettable"
Bae Hyun-jin: "Only Chooses Paths That Should Not Be Taken"

Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 4th regarding the 2025 budget proposal and fund management plan policy speech, which was read by the Prime Minister for the first time in 11 years, saying, "President Yoon Seok-yeol's refusal to deliver the policy speech is a violation of the people's rights."

Before the 418th regular session of the National Assembly and the policy speech on next year's budget held at the National Assembly plenary session on the same day, Speaker Woo stated, "As the head of the National Assembly, the representative institution of the people, I strongly express my regret."

President Yoon did not attend the National Assembly policy speech that day, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo read the government's policy speech on his behalf. From the Roh Tae-woo administration in 1988 to the Lee Myung-bak administration, the president delivered the policy speech only in the first year of inauguration, but since the Park Geun-hye administration in 2013, the president has delivered the policy speech every year, establishing it as a custom.

Speaker Woo Won-sik is speaking ahead of the policy speech on the 2025 budget proposal and fund operation plan held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Speaker Woo first pointed out, "The policy speech is an important process of state affairs in which the government directly reports to the people the budget formulation policy and major policy directions while submitting the new budget proposal to the National Assembly and seeks the cooperation of the National Assembly," adding, "It is a courtesy to the people and respect for the National Assembly for the president to deliver the policy speech in person."

He continued, "There are numerous issues that increase the suffering and anxiety of the people, such as the medical crisis, tax revenue shortfall, inter-Korean confrontation, and military closeness between North Korea and Russia," and said, "The president must clearly explain how to overcome this crisis and bring comfort to the people. The president has the duty to report to the people."

In particular, he mentioned that President Yoon's absence from the 22nd National Assembly opening ceremony on September and having the policy speech read on his behalf was the first since democratization, saying, "It is difficult to see that the people have given their consent," and emphasized, "We must not continue to alienate the National Assembly like this."

Before the policy speech that day, opposition party lawmakers from the Democratic Party, Progressive Party, Basic Income Party, and others held placards in front of the plenary hall reading "President, explain the phone call interfering with candidate nominations!" and "Special investigation on Kim Gun-hee of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration!" criticizing President Yoon's absence from the policy speech.

They raised their voices, saying, "We condemn President Yoon Seok-yeol for continuous absence from the National Assembly," "We condemn President Yoon Seok-yeol for ignoring the National Assembly and the people," "President Yoon, explain the voice call interfering with candidate nominations," and "Special investigation on Kim Gun-hee, the key figure in state affairs manipulation."

Members of the Democratic Party of Korea are urging a special investigation into First Lady Kim Keon-hee and demanding the President's explanation regarding the 'Myeong Taegyun allegations' in front of the National Assembly plenary session hall on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Lawmakers from the People Power Party reacted in the plenary hall by shouting at Speaker Woo, "Proceed with the meeting," and "Democratic Party lawmakers," but some could not hide their disappointment over President Yoon's absence from the policy speech.

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "(President Yoon's absence) is regrettable." It is known that Han recently conveyed through the presidential office that "President Yoon should attend the policy speech."

People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin also wrote on Facebook that day, "I apologize to the people. Despite the discomfort caused by recent controversies and concerns about possible ridicule or jeers from the opposition party inside the plenary hall, the president should have confidently participated in the policy speech announcing the country's budget plan for the new year," and criticized, "The National Assembly is the hall of public opinion, the hall of the people. This is the second time, following the opening ceremony of the last National Assembly, that the president has bypassed the National Assembly. The majority of the people will judge this harshly."

She added, "Repeatedly choosing only the wrong path, an incomprehensible political judgment, and the powerless appearance of the party that cannot persuade him sharply irritate the people and party members today as well," and said, "I am sorry and embarrassed to the people."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is delivering the policy speech on the 2025 budget proposal and fund management plan on behalf of President Yoon Suk-yeol at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min