The Democratic Party announced on June 24 that if the People Power Party does not submit its list of committee members by noon on June 26, it will convene a plenary session that day and claim all 18 committee seats.
During an emergency press conference held at the National Assembly, floor leader Han Byeong-do stated, "We can no longer allow a vacuum in the National Assembly." He emphasized that negotiations are currently stalled over the Legislation Committee, saying, "The entire National Assembly is being paralyzed because of a single position—the chair of the Legislation Committee."
Han reminded the public of the past when the People Power Party held the Legislation Committee, noting, "The public remembers well what happened then. They even blocked bills that had passed through committees."
He issued a stern warning, stating, "We cannot hand over the dangerous power to a group that neglects public welfare. The waiting period is over. We can no longer be dragged along." Following this, the party's leadership conveyed their determination to Chairman Cho.
Democratic Party spokesperson Lee Joo-hee spoke to reporters outside the National Assembly Speaker's office, stating, "The Democratic Party already proposed an initial deadline of June 18, and the Speaker asked for the list to be submitted by noon today. We have made every effort for a smooth negotiation." She added, "The refusal to submit the list by the opposition is a violation of the National Assembly Act, and we can no longer tolerate this illegal situation."
Regarding concerns that this decision might lead to pressure in terms of public opinion and approval ratings, she explained, "We are trying to create a functioning National Assembly. This is a necessary measure to ensure the normal operation of the Assembly."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.