Han Byeong-do, the acting leader of the Democratic Party, criticized the People Power Party on July 2 for reaffirming its decision to boycott the formation of National Assembly committees, calling it "a boycott of people's livelihoods and the height of irresponsibility." He warned that if the party does not cooperate with efforts to normalize the country immediately, it will face severe public judgment.
In a Facebook post, Han stated, "The People Power Party has ultimately turned its back on the people. I hoped for a change in their stance, but it was a vain hope." He emphasized, "What the People Power Party has rejected today is not just the normalization of the National Assembly, but the lives of the people. This is the worst form of political dereliction of duty by the leading opposition party."
He added, "The situation for the people is so urgent that we cannot afford to delay even for a day. The National Assembly must not waste time on fruitless political disputes. Its role is to pass legislation that alleviates the hardships faced by the public."
Han also argued that the People Power Party's claims regarding the return of the judiciary committee and accusations of parliamentary dictatorship are merely deceptive frames that justify the paralysis of the National Assembly. He urged the leading opposition party to adopt a responsible attitude instead of boycotting, stating, "Stop the shallow political calculations aimed at obstructing government operations by any means necessary."
Meanwhile, Jeong Jeom-sik, the floor leader of the People Power Party, made it clear during a party meeting that they will not cooperate with the formation of committees for the second half of the legislative session. The party plans to continue its boycott and confrontational tactics against the ruling party, refusing to accept the committee allocations unilaterally decided by the Democratic Party.
Previously, on June 30, the Democratic Party unilaterally elected chairs for 11 committees, including the judiciary, political affairs, and finance committees, during a plenary session. The ongoing refusal from the People Power Party regarding the remaining seven committees has intensified the standoff between the two parties.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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