(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Pyeong-cheon = The ruling and opposition parties clashed from the beginning on the 8th over the issue of restricting the speaking rights of opposition party members during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Ministry of Justice and other matters.
Before even asking questions about the National Assembly inspection, People Power Party lawmakers Park Hyung-soo and Kim Tae-gyu fiercely protested that Chairman Seo had suspended their right to speak during the National Assembly inspection of the Supreme Court on the 6th.
Rep. Park Hyung-soo, secretary of the People Power Party's Legislative and Judiciary Committee, criticized, saying, "Chairman Seo has finally surpassed Judiciary Committee Chairpersons Chung Cheong-rae and Choo Mi-ae," and added, "As far as I know, this is the first time that two people have been suspended from speaking in one day at the National Assembly Audit Office."
He continued, "If the right to speak is suspended, the member of the National Assembly cannot play its role in monitoring state affairs," and demanded, "It is a problematic suspension of the right to speak. The chairman must apologize and promise that something like this will never happen again."
Representative Kim Tae-gyu said, “The Democratic Party members were loud, but they ‘mute’ and listen very biasedly.” He added, “I want to ask myself if I would tolerate it if someone other than the person who said that to me (be a human being) said that.”
Rep. Kwak Gyu-taek said, "I saw an article yesterday, and it said that one-third (of the meeting) was the chairman's speaking time," and then mentioned the number of members of the National Assembly's Legislative and Judiciary Committee and argued, "If 18 people are having a dinner and order meat for 18 people, shouldn't they eat one portion each? One person ate 6 portions."
Representative Kwak criticized, “If opposition party members raise even the slightest objection and argue, will their right to speak be suspended and an audit of government affairs be held?”
Chairman Seo countered, “The chairman has to carry out the proceedings and discuss the meaning of the meeting, but isn’t it a personal attack to say that he ate 6 servings alone?”
At the same time, regarding the reason for suspending the right to speak, he explained, "Chief Justice Cho sat (at the National Assembly inspection on the 6th) by his own choice, but you (the People Power Party) started screaming."
Rep. Kim Yong-min of the Democratic Party said, “The chairman feels very good,” and urged, “We must resolutely stop Rep. Kim Tae-gyu from speaking, warn him, and expel him.”
He mentioned People Power Party lawmaker Kim Tae-gyu's recent remarks during the National Assembly inspection regarding the movie Assassin(s), such as "Let's make one truth about Owl Rock," and responded, "It's miserable and shameful to even sit here together."
At the same time, he emphasized, "While (Progressive Party) Rep. Son Sol was questioning him, he criticized and ridiculed the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, probably because he was scratched by the assassin(s) movie," and added, "Because taking decisive action is not working properly, the People Power Party lawmakers are doing this without being able to distinguish between heaven and earth."
The war of words between the ruling and opposition parties continued into the late afternoon.
Chairman Seo said, "The report that Seo Young-kyo's speech (time) was one-third of the (total) time was false, so we request a corrected report, and if not, we will take legal action."
In relation to this, Chairman Seo countered by saying, “It is not appropriate to simply compare the speaking time of the chairperson and committee members who are supposed to proceed with the proceedings,” and “The time for presenting sole opinions rather than making remarks during proceedings was 42 minutes, which is only 8.4% of the total meeting time.”
In response, People Power Party lawmakers protested fiercely. Then Rep. Park Gyun-taek shouted, "Let's be polite. That means we're being told to be human."
Rep. Kwak of the People Power Party raised his voice toward Chairman Seo, saying, "You're threatening the opposition party members," and "Look, you can't even say anything because you're being manipulated."
At the National Assembly inspection on this day, Rep. Park Hyeong-soo of the People Power Party and Rep. Kim Yong-min of the Democratic Party clashed over prosecution reform.
Rep. Park criticized, “61% of the people opposed the abolition of the supplementary investigative right, but they are pushing it and selling out the people. Rep. Kim Yong-min said he did his homework by going to President Roh Moo-hyun’s grave, but when did President Roh Moo-hyun give him homework to abolish the prosecution’s supplementary investigative right?”
Representative Kim Yong-min countered the People Power Party member by saying, “The only thing I know how to do is oppose, criticize, ridicule, and shout loudly,” and added, “President Roh Moo-hyun’s homework is to reform the prosecution and create a fair world.”
During this process, when People Power Party Rep. Kim Tae-gyu shouted at Rep. Kim Yong-min, “Be rude,” Rep. Kim Yong-min responded, “Please keep your mouth shut.”
Chairman Seo also warned Representative Kim Tae-gyu, “Don’t say things like the Vice Minister of Justice is a loner or anything like that.”
Previously, Representative Kim Tae-gyu said to Vice Minister of Justice Lee Jin-soo, "You said you did not know that three members of the inspection committee were replaced, but if the minister's actions were not reported to the vice minister, it is true that he was ostracized."
