The Democratic Party has faced strong backlash from the People Power Party following its unilateral decisions during a parliamentary session on June 30, where it elected chairs for 10 standing committees and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, as well as approved the personnel report for Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook. The opposition party has declared a boycott and is responding with a hardline stance, leading to heightened tensions in the National Assembly and between the two parties.
On July 1, lawmakers from both parties engaged in a war of words over the Democratic Party's actions during the previous day's session. The Democratic Party criticized the People Power Party for prioritizing political strife over public welfare, particularly regarding the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, while urging the opposition to complete the appointments for the seven committee chairs allocated to them.
Acting party leader Han Byeong-do stated during a Supreme Council meeting that the People Power Party has only repeated demands for the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair, showing no concern for public welfare. He urged the opposition to cooperate in selecting committee chairs, warning that if they continue to obstruct the functioning of the National Assembly, the ruling party would employ all necessary measures.
Kang Jun-hyun, the party's chief spokesperson, echoed these sentiments after the meeting, asserting that the People Power Party bears full responsibility for the inability to fully open the second half of the National Assembly, claiming they have derailed all negotiations and are intent on creating a dysfunctional legislature.
Conversely, the People Power Party accused the Democratic Party of monopolizing power by taking the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair, labeling it a form of legislative dictatorship and an obsession with the cancellation of President Lee Jae-myung's indictment. They warned that if this trend continues, the Democratic Party would face severe backlash.
Chief spokesperson Park Sung-hoon reiterated that the Democratic Party has fundamentally undermined the principles of parliamentary democracy, stating, "If they continue their unilateral legislative push, they will ultimately face the judgment of the people." He emphasized that the ruling party used its overwhelming majority to unilaterally elect committee chairs and push through the nomination of Han Seong-sook, calling it a grave violation of parliamentary norms and a death knell for parliamentary democracy.
Choi Eun-seok, the party's floor spokesperson, added that the demand for the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair was aimed at maintaining a minimal balance in the operation of the National Assembly, criticizing the Democratic Party for failing to relinquish this position while remaining fixated on the cancellation of the president's indictment.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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