Emergency Press Conference Held at the National Assembly on the 23rd...
Urging Democratic Party Lawmakers to Join the Cause
On June 23, People Power Party lawmakers and party chapter heads from the Chungcheong region strongly criticized the government's plan to relocate the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, calling it "an act of betrayal that stabs the people of Chungcheong in the back."
The People Power Party lawmakers from the Chungcheong region held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly's communication hall in Yeouido that morning. They stated, "What the Lee Jaemyung administration and the Democratic Party are attempting is not merely the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, but the dismantling and destruction of the administrative capital."
They added, "As soon as the Lee Jaemyung administration took office, it began to undermine the administrative capital. President Lee has not mentioned the relocation of the presidential office to Sejong, which he promised during the election, since taking office. Furthermore, he is now trying to hastily push through the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan."
They continued, "This is a serious act of betrayal against all Chungcheong residents who supported Lee Jaemyung's campaign promise of 'completing the administrative capital.' The relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is not simply about moving a single government ministry. It is tantamount to abandoning the construction of the administrative capital, which was already agreed upon by the public long ago."
The People Power Party lawmakers from the Chungcheong region emphasized, "The construction of the administrative capital is not a matter of gain or loss for any particular region. It has been pursued for balanced national development, a value enshrined in Article 123 of the Constitution, and it is for the benefit of the entire Republic of Korea and all its citizens."
They also warned, "If the Lee Jaemyung administration and the Democratic Party force through the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, it will set a very bad precedent in the process of building the administrative capital. From that point on, every local government across the country will cite this precedent as grounds to demand a share of the administrative capital."
They stated, "There are only six People Power Party lawmakers from the Chungcheong region," and strongly urged Democratic Party lawmakers and party chapter heads from the Chungcheong region to join their cause.
In particular, they called on Kang Hoonshik, the Chief Presidential Secretary from Chungcheong, who serves as the president's closest aide, to "faithfully convey the importance of completing the administrative capital and the will of the Chungcheong people."
The People Power Party lawmakers from the Chungcheong region also pointed out, "In the recent presidential election, President Lee Jaemyung received a high vote share of 48.4% in the Chungcheong region, 6.5 percentage points higher than candidate Kim Moonsoo. The Chungcheong region made a decisive contribution to President Lee's victory, but in return, what they received was the betrayal of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries relocation."
They further stated, "We will await official responses from Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoonshik, Democratic Party lawmakers from the Chungcheong region, local government heads, and party chapter heads, together with the people of Chungcheong."
Attending the emergency press conference were People Power Party lawmakers Sung Iljong (Seosan and Taean, South Chungcheong), Jang Donghyuk (Boryeong and Seocheon, South Chungcheong), Kang Seungkyu (Hongseong County and Yesan County, South Chungcheong), Um Taeyoung (Jecheon City and Danyang County, North Chungcheong), Park Deokheum (Boeun, Okcheon, Yeongdong, and Gwesan, North Chungcheong), Lee Jongbae (Chungju, North Chungcheong), and all party chapter heads from the Chungcheong region.
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