Na Kyungwon urges the return of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship to the opposition during her sit-in protest
Park Hongkeun: "A sit-in with meals and lodging, neither a hunger strike nor an all-night protest, is rare"
Na Kyungwon: "Lee Jaemyung staged a well-being hunger strike show... pure hypocrisy"
Park Hongkeun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, commented that Na Kyungwon, a member of the People Power Party, starting a sit-in protest to demand the withdrawal of Kim Minseok’s nomination as Prime Minister and the return of the chairmanship of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, “looks like camping or even a vacation.” On the 28th, Park wrote on his social media, “(Na) is eating well-being gimbap, drinking Starbucks coffee, and turning on a desktop fan because it’s hot,” making this claim.
Na Kyungwon, a member of the People Power Party, continuing her protest at the National Assembly Rotunda Hall. Instagram
Park further criticized, “A ‘live-in sit-in’ that is neither a hunger strike nor an all-night protest is rare. It is a severe irony that someone who supported and defended Yoon Sukyeol, the ringleader of the rebellion, is now talking about cooperation. It seems it also takes talent to deliberately choose to behave in such an unlikable way.” He added, “If you are obsessed with self-serving politics, always seeking to stand out for the next opportunity, then no remedy will work.”
In response, on the 29th, Na wrote on her own social media, “If eating gimbap and doing an all-night sit-in is considered a vacation, then what was Lee Jaemyung’s well-being hunger strike show, commuting to and from the protest?” She continued, “Park only demonstrates the DNA of hypocrisy and double standards of Lee Jaemyung and the Democratic Party administration. Instead of criticizing me, he should look back at the hypocrisy of Lee Jaemyung and the Democratic Party, who mocked the public by eating food openly while pretending to do a well-being hunger strike, commuting daily, and agitating over Fukushima contaminated water.”
On August 31, 2023, then Democratic Party leader Lee Jaemyung set up a tent in front of the main building of the National Assembly and went on a 24-day hunger strike, demanding opposition to Fukushima contaminated water, a complete overhaul of state affairs, and the resignation of the entire cabinet. During this period, Lee consumed contents from a thermos. He also moved to the party leader’s office in the main building late at night to continue his hunger strike protest.
When the People Power Party criticized this as a “hunger strike in name only,” the Democratic Party explained that “salt and warm water are the minimum measures to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalance” and that “the hunger strike continued in the leader’s office only to prevent harm to party staff and National Assembly security officers working overnight.”
Na also emphasized, “We must restore normalcy to a world where criminals mock non-criminals, refuse trials, and openly seize control of the judiciary, and where those who destroy democratic rule of law falsely claim to represent democracy and the rule of law.”
On the third day of her sit-in protest at the National Assembly Rotunda Hall, Na stated, “When Lee was party leader, he destroyed parliamentary democracy; now, by seizing the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to protect himself from prosecution, he is trying to destroy the judicial system as well.” She continued, “Lee still faces trial risks. For three out of five ongoing cases, the trial dates have not yet been set, and Article 84 of the Constitution, cited by the court, refers to new criminal prosecutions, not ongoing criminal trials.”
Na said, “Now that we are the opposition, there is not a single platform for the voices of the people who chose us. That is why we are demanding the return of the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Holding this chairmanship is the last line of defense for protecting the rule of law.” Regarding Kim’s nomination, she commented, “Watching the confirmation hearing, it was just too much. We cannot have a ‘cabbage Prime Minister,’ a ‘wardrobe Prime Minister,’ or a ‘sponsor Prime Minister’ candidate.” She further criticized, “It’s not just about morality; he also lacks the policy knowledge and competence required of a Prime Minister.”
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