Democratic lawmakers' photo session during opposition speech sparks outrage

The recent plenary session of the National Assembly was marred by a display of disrespect from the ruling Democratic Party towards the opposition People Power Party. As Kim Gun, the People Power Party's coordinator for the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, began his five-minute speech on the motion to dismiss Minister of Unification Jeong Dong-young, a significant number of Democratic Party lawmakers staged a walkout.

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Are the Democratic Party lawmakers who are taking commemorative photos while an opposition lawmaker is speaking at the National Assembly plenary session sane?

What followed was even more egregious: several Democratic Party members gathered for a commemorative photo session, with the stage and the ongoing parliamentary proceedings as their backdrop. This occurred while the Speaker of the National Assembly, Woo Won-shik, and Rep. Kim were still at the front, engaged in the parliamentary business. The stated purpose was to commemorate lawmakers who would be leaving their posts to run in the June local elections, but the timing and context—during an opposition member's speech on a dismissal motion—rendered the act deeply provocative.

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This was beyond disregard for the opposition and a matter of the dignity and qualifications of ruling party lawmakers who are responsible for state affairs.

The People Power Party rightly condemned this behavior, with Rep. Lee Seong-kwon stating on Facebook that the Democratic Party "did not even listen to the proposal for dismissal." He questioned their sanity, asking, "Are the Democratic Party lawmakers who are taking commemorative photos while an opposition lawmaker is speaking at the National Assembly plenary session sane?" He further argued that this was "beyond disregard for the opposition" and a matter of "the dignity and qualifications of ruling party lawmakers who are responsible for state affairs." This incident, he concluded, was an "act of desecration that undermines the national dignity of the Republic of Korea, far beyond a lack of qualification." The opposition's outrage is understandable, as this incident highlights a disturbing trend of partisan animosity overriding parliamentary decorum and substantive debate.

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This incident was an act of desecration that undermines the national dignity of the Republic of Korea, far beyond a lack of qualification.

Compounding the controversy, the motion to dismiss Minister Jeong Dong-young was automatically discarded. According to parliamentary law, an impeachment motion must be voted on within 24 to 72 hours of being reported to the plenary session. As the April ad hoc session was concluding, the motion, which had been submitted on the 24th, could not be put to a vote. The People Power Party had requested an earlier session on the 27th, but Speaker Woo did not accommodate this, leading to the report on the final day. This procedural outcome, while technically correct, leaves a bitter taste, as the opposition feels their legitimate concerns were not even given a chance to be debated due to the ruling party's actions and the Speaker's scheduling.

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I proposed the dismissal motion with the loyalty to protect the diplomacy and security of the Republic of Korea, and it should not be treated lightly.