Kim Won-i Says "People Power Party Lacks Will to Pass US Investment Act... Speaker Should Consider Unilateral Agenda-Setting"

Democratic Party and Industry Ministry Form Consensus in Party-Government Talks on Swift Passage
"Korea Must Not Become a Negative Example for the United States"
Amid People Power Party Opposition, Some in the Ruling Camp Float Unilateral Agenda-Setting by the Speaker

On the 26th, the Democratic Party of Korea and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a party-government consultation to address the deadlock over the passage of the Special Act on Investment in the United States. While both sides agreed on the need for swift passage, some within the Democratic Party argued that if the bill is not handled by March 9, National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik should "at least consider exercising his authority to place it on the agenda unilaterally."

Lawmakers on the National Assembly’s Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs, and Startups Committee from the Democratic Party and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a closed-door party-government consultation on this day. Meeting with reporters after the consultation, Representative Kim Won-i, the Democratic Party’s secretary on the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs, and Startups Committee, said, "The most important point was that there was broad consensus that the Special Act on Investment in the United States needs to be handled swiftly."

On the 24th, witnesses voiced their opinions at a legislative hearing on the "Special Bill for the Management of Strategic Korea-U.S. Investments," held during the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Special Committee for Handling the Special Act on Investment to the United States. Yonhap News

Representative Kim said, "President Donald Trump of the United States has had his pride wounded because of the Supreme Court ruling, and he is in a situation where he needs an example that can restore his pride, but Korea must not become that example," adding, "The condition for that is to quickly pass the Special Act on Investment in the United States in the National Assembly, so that Korea can promptly demonstrate its determination to keep its commitments with the United States."

Regarding the decision to set March 9 as the deadline for the Special Committee to deal with the Special Act on Investment in the United States, he explained, "We have effectively bought time until March 9." However, the People Power Party has recently been pushing back, delaying the introduction of the bill in the Special Committee in protest against the Democratic Party’s push to ram through judicial reform bills and other legislation. On this, Representative Kim added, "Judging from what the People Power Party is doing, they do not seem to have the will," and said, "In that case, I think the Speaker should at least exercise his authority to place the bill on the agenda unilaterally."