How the Democratic Party Plans to Tackle Economic Challenges in South Korea: Key Insights

Translation result

“With the economy squeezing ordinary households, the People Power Party is obstructing government work”
“We must elect the Assembly speaker to form committees… We cannot delay the leadership elections”

Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said the party’s principle for forming standing committees in the second half of the 22nd National Assembly is clear: “As the party that works, the Democratic Party will assume 100% of the committee chairmanships and take responsibility.”

At a party meeting at the National Assembly on the 22nd, Jeong said, “The crisis in the Middle East has put pressure on people’s livelihoods, and instead of cooperating, they are stalling government work.”

He criticized the People Power Party, saying, “They’ve had so many internal conflicts that some call them the ‘Intra-conflict Party,’ but I see them as a party that condones insurrection — a pro-insurrection party.” He added, “I’m outraged by their position on insurrection, and they resort to filibusters at the drop of a hat to paralyze government business.”

Jeong continued, “We have a backlog of bills to help the public, but committees chaired by the other side (the People Power Party) aren’t operating.” He argued, “Like the U.S., which the People Power Party admires, we should adopt an American-style approach: in the U.S., the party that has even one more seat typically claims all committee chairmanships.”

“We don’t want to take that route,” Jeong said, “but we will if necessary to respond nimbly to an increasingly complex international order. Every issue has a golden hour; if we miss it, the harm to the public can be severe.”

He invoked the principle of “no work, no pay,” saying, “Those who refuse to work should not expect to take benefits. If the People Power Party won’t work, they shouldn’t expect committee chairmanships.”

Jeong said the Assembly must elect a speaker to finalize committee assignments for the second half and announced he will move forward with the related procedures. “We cannot postpone the speaker and deputy speaker elections, even though they fall during the local elections,” he said.