[2025 Audit] Na Kyungwon Calls It an "Unfavorable Deal"... Park Jiwon Says "Are You from Mars?"

Ruling and Opposition Parties Continue to Clash
at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee Audit

On the final day of the National Assembly audit on October 30, the ruling and opposition parties clashed once again over the conclusion of the Korea-US tariff negotiations. Na Kyungwon, a member of the People Power Party, argued that the negotiations were less favorable than those with Japan due to a special investigation into insurrection involving the US Forces Korea and the subsequent search and seizure. Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, countered by accusing the People Power Party of disparaging the results of the negotiations.

During the comprehensive audit of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly, Na Kyungwon commented on the conclusion of the Korea-US tariff negotiations, saying, "It is fair to assess that some uncertainties have been resolved," but also pointed out, "It is true that the negotiations were less favorable than those with Japan."

Na Kyungwon, a member of the People Power Party, is speaking at the 2025 Legislation and Judiciary Committee's national audit held at the National Assembly on October 20, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Na Kyungwon stated, "In terms of cash investment amount, burden relative to GDP, and foreign exchange reserves, the negotiations were less favorable than those with Japan," and added, "If you look at why this happened, it was because the level of trust between Korea and the US was lower than the trust between Japan and the US."

She went on to mention that, last August, President Donald Trump of the United States claimed on social media just before his summit with President Lee Jaemyung that "it seems there is a purge or revolution happening in Korea," and said, "This cannot be ignored as a reason for the lack of trust with the United States."

She also referred to the official protest lodged by the US Forces Korea with the South Korean government regarding the special investigation team's search and seizure at the Osan base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and said, "The letter of protest arrived in early October. If the Minister of Justice believes the search did not violate the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), he should say so. If it did, he should work to clear up any misunderstandings."

Na Kyungwon emphasized, "In the end, job opportunities in Korea will dry up due to the hollowing out of investment," and raised her voice, saying, "I have no idea where this country is headed."

Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is questioning during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit held on the morning of October 17 last year at the Daejeon High Court in Seo-gu, Daejeon. Photo by Yonhap News

In response, Park Ji-won argued, "The tariff negotiations that we were so concerned about were concluded so successfully yesterday that the KOSPI soared well past 4,000."

He added, "I made a day trip to Japan yesterday, and key Japanese figures told me, 'We didn't expect the Korean negotiations to be concluded so successfully,' and 'We are impressed by President Lee's negotiation skills.'"

He continued, "When there is a major diplomatic issue like this, it is the role of the National Assembly, including the opposition, to put pressure on President Trump and help strengthen our president's negotiation power," and added, "All newspapers and broadcasters are saying it went well, and the market response is positive, but seeing Assemblywoman Na disparage it, it really feels as if she is from Mars."