First Interpellation Session of Lee Administration Set for Major Clash: "Resolving Insurrection" vs "Blocking One-Party Rule"

Ruling Party to Highlight Achievements of the Lee Jaemyung Administration
Opposition Signals Hearing-Style Scrutiny, Emphasizing "100 Days of Mismanagement"

Starting on September 15, the ruling and opposition parties will clash over major national issues-including the three special prosecutor bills, prosecution and judicial reform, and follow-up measures to the South Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations-during four days of interpellation sessions at the National Assembly.

Jeong Chungrae, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kim Byunggi, the floor leader, are attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th. 2025.9.15 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The Democratic Party of Korea plans to focus on highlighting the achievements of the Lee Jaemyung administration and emphasizing the need to settle past insurrection-related matters. During his speech as the representative of the negotiation bloc on September 9, Jeong Chungrae, leader of the Democratic Party, targeted the People Power Party, stating, "If we fail to break from the forces of insurrection, we could become subject to a constitutional review for dissolution as an unconstitutional party." This is expected to reignite the debate over the dissolution of unconstitutional parties.

Additionally, the Democratic Party is expected to stress the necessity of judicial reform through the amendment of the Government Organization Act, which includes the abolition of the prosecution service and the separation of prosecutorial investigative and indictment powers, as well as the expansion of Supreme Court justices.

Jang Donghyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the on-site Supreme Council meeting held at the Busan City Party Office in Namcheon-dong, Suyeong-gu, Busan on the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News

The People Power Party has announced its intention to turn this round of interpellation into a "hearing against the administration," signaling sharp criticism toward the government and the ruling party. In particular, the party plans to challenge the judicial reform measures being pursued by the ruling party, such as the amendment of the Government Organization Act and the expansion of Supreme Court justices, while framing the situation as "one-party dictatorship."

In addition, the party intends to intensively question the government on diplomatic issues, using the South Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations and the detention incident in the state of Georgia, United States, as focal points. Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated on social media the previous day, "We will thoroughly expose the incompetence and arrogance of the Lee Jaemyung administration, which is all self-praise and empty promises."

Tensions are also expected to continue regarding the demand for the resignation of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Huidae, raised by Choo Mi-ae, chairperson of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee. At the on-site Supreme Council meeting held at the Busan City Party Office in Suyeong-gu, Busan, Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, emphasized, "The position held by Chief Justice Cho is not a personal one, but the final bastion for upholding the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in the Republic of Korea. The reason the terms of the Chief Justice and the President are different is to firmly safeguard judicial independence regardless of changes in presidential power, as mandated by the Constitution. Chief Justice Cho must absolutely comply with this constitutional mandate."

The interpellation sessions will begin with politics on September 15, followed by diplomacy, unification, and national security on September 16, the economy on September 17, and education, society, and culture on September 18.