"Choo Mi-ae vs Na Kyungwon"... People Power Party Appoints Five-Term Na Kyungwon as Legislation and Judiciary Committee Secretary

Jang Donghyuk: "The Choo Mi-ae Legislation and Judiciary Committee Is Committing Parliamentary Tyranny"
"The Best Choice to Normalize the Barbaric Standing Committee"

Na Kyungwon, a five-term senior lawmaker from the People Power Party, will serve as the party's secretary on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. With Choo Mi-ae, a six-term lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, serving as the committee chair, an intense standoff between the ruling and opposition parties is expected.

People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyungwon is entering the Yeouido People Power Party headquarters, which is being searched by the Kim Gunhee special prosecutor on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News

Yoo Sangbeom, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the People Power Party, announced at a workshop held at the Incheon International Airport Corporation Human Resources Development Center on the afternoon of August 28, "Assemblywoman Na Kyungwon will join the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and take on the role of secretary."

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, expressed his gratitude on the social networking service Facebook, saying, "I sincerely thank Representative Na for her dedicated decision for the party," and added, "I look forward to even greater contributions from our senior lawmakers during this regular National Assembly session, including the upcoming interpellation of the government."

Jang emphasized, "'The Choo Mi-ae Legislation and Judiciary Committee' is committing parliamentary tyranny by unilaterally pushing through proceedings with its overwhelming majority," and added, "In response, the People Power Party's 'Na Kyungwon Legislation and Judiciary Committee' is the best choice to restore order to this barbaric standing committee with overwhelming logic and competence."

Initially, Jang Donghyuk was serving as the People Power Party's secretary on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, but the position became vacant when he ran for party leadership. Afterward, Assemblyman Park Hyungsoo temporarily took over the secretary duties after moving from the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Now, Assemblywoman Na Kyungwon has taken over the baton.

Typically, the secretary of a National Assembly standing committee is a two-term lawmaker. The decision to appoint Na Kyungwon, a former judge and five-term senior lawmaker, as secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is seen as an intention to significantly escalate the level of confrontation with the opposition. Yoo Sangbeom explained, "Regardless of seniority or circumstances, we have to go into battle mode."

Speaking with reporters that day, Na Kyungwon said, "I believe this is a very difficult time," and emphasized, "The Democratic Party is currently dismantling the system of the Republic of Korea and undermining the national framework."

Na Kyungwon added, "From the abolition of the prosecution service to the collapse of the judicial system, there are a series of issues remaining," and said, "Taking on the secretary role by breaking with tradition is truly to persuade the public and to unite the people's will with all our strength."

Regarding Chairperson Choo, Na Kyungwon stated, "The Democratic Party holds both the Speaker of the National Assembly and the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, but the committee chair should have gone to the opposition party," and added, "I will work to persuade even one more citizen to stop Chairperson Choo's unilateral rampage."