Attending the Regular National Assembly Opening in Mourning Attire... People Power Party: "Destruction of Parliamentary Democracy"

Wearing "In Mourning for Parliamentary Democracy" Ribbons
Song Eonseok: "A Determined Stand Against the Lee Jaemyung Administration's Dictatorship"

Lawmakers from the People Power Party attended the opening ceremony of the regular session of the National Assembly on the 1st, all wearing black mourning clothes. Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated, "This is a renewed determination to stand against the dictatorial politics of the Lee Jaemyung administration, which is destroying parliamentary democracy."

People including Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, and Song Eonseok, floor leader, attended the opening ceremony of the 429th regular session of the National Assembly held at the National Assembly on the 1st, wearing black mourning clothes and singing the national anthem. Photo by Yonhap News

Party leaders including Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, and other lawmakers entered the main chamber of the National Assembly in the afternoon, dressed in black suits with black ties and mourning ribbons. The ribbons bore the phrase "In Mourning for Parliamentary Democracy."

Previously, National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik had suggested that lawmakers wear hanbok to the opening ceremony of the regular session, but the People Power Party rejected this proposal and decided as a party to wear mourning clothes instead.

At a general meeting of lawmakers held before the plenary session, Floor Leader Song said, "The legislative monopoly of the Democratic Party, which began with the 2019 fast-track (expedited bill process), has now become blatant majority-party dictatorship. The majority party tramples on the minority party's nominees as if conducting ideological censorship, and even when businesses plead in opposition, the labor union act and commercial act are unilaterally pushed through."

Song further stated, "On the 10th, it is said that the main session will proceed with a blatant public shaming agenda by handling the arrest motion for our party's Kwon Seongdong in line with the opposition party's negotiation group leader's speech. For the Lee Jaemyung administration, which wields the power of the majority party in one hand and the sword of a special prosecutor in the other, the term 'dictatorship' is no longer just political rhetoric but the essence."

Park Sumin, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, told reporters after the general meeting, "We see that laws detrimental to various businesses are being unilaterally passed, the appointment of a human rights commissioner was handled solely by the Democratic Party, breaking constitutional convention, and even special prosecution laws are being extended to pursue non-existent crimes. This is not an atmosphere for laughter or celebration, but rather a recognition that the constitutional order and parliamentary democracy of the Republic of Korea are in serious crisis."

She continued, "The Democratic Party seems to be in a celebratory mood," adding, "There is a difference in how we perceive the situation." Regarding additional protest plans such as a condemnation rally, Park said, "Since we participated in the opening ceremony wearing mourning ribbons, I believe our message has been clearly conveyed."