Speaker Woo Wonsik: "Is Floor Leader Song Eonseok Supporting Rebellion?... Must Apologize to the People"

On September 11, Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Wonsik called on Song Eonseok, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, to apologize for what has been dubbed the "Noh Sangwon Notebook Controversy." Woo stated, "During the plenary session, there was a remark suggesting that it would have been better if the incident in which the Speaker of the National Assembly, leaders from both ruling and opposition parties, and other key figures nearly lost their lives during the period of martial law had actually succeeded. There has not been a single word of explanation yet," he said, urging an apology.

Woo Wonsik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 77th Constitution Day Celebration held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on July 17. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Speaker Woo made these remarks during the afternoon plenary session, immediately after the National Assembly passed the motion to arrest Kwon Seongdong, a member of the People Power Party. He added, "Eventually, a senior member of the same party went so far as to defend and support this in an official meeting. It is so appalling that it is almost beyond belief."

Woo continued, "How are we supposed to interpret such a statement, wishing for the horrific events described in the so-called Noh Sangwon Notebook-which alone caused the nation to tremble with fear-to actually have happened? This is not criticism or checks and balances against the other side; it is reckless behavior. It is a deviation from common sense and the Constitution."

He went on to say, "Imagine what could have happened if the National Assembly at that time had failed to pass the resolution demanding the lifting of martial law. Do you not remember May 18 Gwangju? Do you not recall that tragic massacre of citizens and the assault on democracy?"

Speaker Woo said, "There is no room for excuses (for Floor Leader Song). He must make clear whether he is expressing support for a rebellion that sought to invade the National Assembly, disrupt constitutional order, and eliminate political opponents through violence. He must clarify his position and apologize to the people."

He added, "As Speaker of the National Assembly and as someone who could have been a victim of that ruthless plan, I take this matter very seriously. I demand a formal apology from the person responsible for the remarks. Apologize to the people, to the Constitution, and to democracy."

The controversial remarks by Floor Leader Song came after Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated during a National Assembly negotiation group speech on September 9, "If the Noh Sangwon Notebook had succeeded in reality, neither President Lee nor I, Jeong Cheongrae, would be alive today. We would have become lost souls." At that time, voices from the People Power Party's seats in the plenary session were heard saying, "It would have been better if that had happened." Afterwards, the Democratic Party announced, "It has been confirmed that the person who made the unspeakable remark about President Lee and the opposition party leader during Representative Jeong's speech was Song Eonseok, Floor Leader of the People Power Party."