Special Parliamentary Delegation Promoting 'Korea Safety' Says Japan Felt Reassured After Explanation

Woo Won-shik Meets with G7 and EU Delegations
Discusses Korea's Political Stability and International Cooperation
Calls for Support for the Upcoming APEC Summit in Gyeongju

Following the December 3 emergency martial law situation, a special parliamentary delegation dispatched to Japan to externally promote South Korea's efforts to stabilize the political situation and restore democracy has been continuing its activities without any setbacks.

The special parliamentary delegation, consisting of five members including Joo Ho-young, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union, as well as Yoon Ho-jung and Yoon Hu-deok from the Democratic Party, Lee Seong-gwon from the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok from the Reform New Party, met with Korean correspondents in Tokyo to report on their activities over the past two days.

On the 20th, Joo Ho-young, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, met with former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga at the House of Representatives Second Members' Office Building in Tokyo and listened to him. Photo by Yonhap News

Assemblyman Yoon Ho-jung explained, "The Japanese side was somewhat anxious, but after hearing the delegation's explanations, they showed reactions of reassurance." Vice Speaker Joo Ho-young urged, "Let us work together to improve Korea-Japan relations."

They are the first group of the special delegation that Speaker Woo Won-shik has been promoting to dispatch to key allied countries such as the United States, China, Japan, and the European Union (EU). The day before, the special delegation paid a courtesy visit to Shigeru Ishiba, former Prime Minister of Japan, and Yoshihide Suga, former Prime Minister of Japan and Chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union. On this day, they held meetings with Fukuhiro Nukaga, Speaker of the House of Representatives, among others. They also visited the memorial plaque of Lee Soo-hyun, a hero who died after being hit by a train in Tokyo in 2001 while trying to save a Japanese person, and offered flowers. Their return schedule is planned for the 22nd.

On the same day, Speaker Woo Won-shik invited eight foreign envoys from the Group of Seven (G7) and the European Union (EU) stationed in Korea to the National Assembly for a luncheon meeting to discuss current political issues following the emergency martial law situation. Speaker Woo emphasized to them, "Please widely inform your countries and the international community that Korea is safe," adding, "Although we are experiencing great sorrow and pain due to the national crisis of martial law and the passenger plane disaster, the Republic of Korea is a country with strong democratic resilience and crisis-overcoming DNA, and we will overcome this crisis as well."

Speaker Woo continued, "I ask for your support and cooperation for the successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, at the end of this year," noting, "We have experience successfully hosting the 2005 Busan APEC summit, and the National Assembly will actively assist."

He also called for strengthening cooperation between the G7, the EU, and Korea. Speaker Woo stated, "There is an increasing need for countries that share democratic universal values to cooperate on international crises such as global supply chains, food security, health, and climate change," emphasizing, "The National Assembly will expand and develop parliamentary diplomacy to strengthen relations with the G7 and the EU."