National Assembly Steering Committee Disrupted as Presidential Office and Ruling Party Members All Absent

The National Assembly Steering Committee was disrupted on the 19th due to the absence of the government and ruling party members.

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea and chair of the Steering Committee, said on the day, "We cannot help but deplore the complete absence of the Presidential Office." Earlier, the opposition party requested the attendance of 20 government officials, including Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok, at the full meeting of the Steering Committee to question issues related to the emergency martial law declared on December 3.

However, all 13 members of the Presidential Office, including Chief Jeong, 5 members of the National Security Office including Director Shin Won-sik, and 2 members of the Presidential Security Service including Director Park Jong-jun, were absent that day. It is known that only Director Park submitted a written excuse for absence.

Park Hyung-soo, the senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters at the National Assembly, "It has been decided that the People Power Party and the Presidential Office will not participate in the Steering Committee," adding, "The Democratic Party unilaterally set the schedule, and the Presidential Office said it is difficult to participate due to being busy with Acting President Han Deok-soo’s briefing."

Meanwhile, the National Assembly Intelligence Committee is expected to proceed solely with the ruling party due to the Democratic Party’s absence. Senior Deputy Floor Leader Park said, "We suggested working together with the opposition, but they refused. They said they cannot receive the briefing because the National Intelligence Service chief was reported."

At the plenary meeting of the Steering Committee held at the National Assembly on the 21st, ruling party lawmakers left the meeting during the session, leaving their seats empty. During the meeting, the budget proposals for the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission, the Presidential Secretariat and the National Security Office, and the Presidential Security Service for 2025 were processed. Photo by Kim Hyun-min