Song Eon-seok and Chu Mi-ae Clash Fiercely Over Legislation and Judiciary Committee Handling of the Daegu?North Gyeongsang Integration Bill

Chu Mi-ae: "People Power Party must withdraw the filibuster first"

Song Eon-seok: "Why are you suddenly making excuses about the filibuster?"

Song Eon-seok, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, and Chu Mi-ae, Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly (a member of the Democratic Party), engaged in a heated debate over the convening of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

On the 10th, Floor Leader Song stated at a press conference, "Following the intentions of all lawmakers from the Daegu and North Gyeongsang regions and the outcome of our party caucus, the People Power Party has requested the Democratic Party to promptly convene the Legislation and Judiciary Committee so that the Daegu-North Gyeongsang administrative integration bill can be processed during this session of the National Assembly." He added, "If the Democratic Party truly wants balanced regional development, it must immediately stop trying to divide the opposition and process the Daegu-North Gyeongsang administrative integration bill without delay."

Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a press briefing held at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Yonhap News

In response, Chair Chu commented on social media, "You keep filing filibusters for every single issue, yet the Deputy Speaker from Daegu and the Floor Leader from North Gyeongsang are requesting that the Legislation and Judiciary Committee be convened quickly to handle the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration bill." She criticized, "You submit filibuster requests and, to avoid personal inconvenience, the Deputy Speaker refuses to preside over the session, and People Power Party lawmakers leave the plenary chamber. That leaves our party’s committee members to stay behind and fulfill the duty of guarding the plenary chamber." She continued, "Under these circumstances, when could we possibly convene the Legislation and Judiciary Committee?" and demanded, "Floor Leader Song should first withdraw the filibuster."

Chu Mi-ae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and chairperson of the National Assembly Judiciary Committee (left), is voting to end the unlimited debate (filibuster) on the proposed amendment to the Criminal Act (crime of law distortion) that was submitted the day before during the 8th plenary session of the February extraordinary session held at the National Assembly on the 26th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

To this, Floor Leader Song responded, "Why are you suddenly making excuses about the filibuster?" He continued, "Even while you were filibustering, you convened a party caucus and submitted and processed the amendment to the crime of legal distortion in the plenary session, didn’t you?"

He added, "If the Democratic Party is truly willing to process the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration bill, wouldn’t Floor Leader Han Byungdo be able to simply rearrange one duty roster? Stop dodging the issue and give a straightforward answer."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.