The possibility of changing the configuration of the National Assembly has increased as Jung Cheong-rae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea who advocated for the 'dissolution of the People Power Party,' became the party leader. If Representative Jung takes a hardline approach, it seems likely that the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties will intensify in the August extraordinary National Assembly and the September regular National Assembly.
Representative Jung was elected as the party leader of the ruling party during the Democratic Party convention held on the 2nd. Although the term lasts only one year until August next year, it signifies that he is the first ruling party leader of the Lee Jae-myung administration and will lead the local elections in June next year.
Throughout the election period, Representative Jung maintained a hardline stance against the opposition. On this day, he also emphasized, 'Is it possible to achieve substantial cooperation with the forces that actually intended to kill President Lee Jae-myung and Jung Cheong-rae, Park Chan-dae, and Kim Min-seok?' and stated, 'Dealing with the internal rebellion should come first before cooperation.'
He targeted the People Power Party, saying, 'The internal rebellion party must be dissolved and its roots must be cut off. We are currently in a war against rebellion,' and added, 'I will push forward with judicial, media, and legal reforms like a storm and tackle them with lightning speed.'
He said, 'There is no victory without a fight, and there is no stability without victory,' and continued, 'I will handle the fighting, so the president should just focus on work. I will take on the dirty and dangerous work of fighting, and the flowers and fruits of cooperation, integration, and stability will be credited to President Lee Jae-myung.'
He defined the People Power Party as an unconstitutional party and mentioned that it is subject to a constitutional court ruling for party dissolution. He also proposed the establishment of a special committee for the eradication of rebellious forces as a tenth innovative pledge. This indicates his intention to continue the offensive against the People Power Party.
Some speculate that Representative Jung's hardline stance might change after the election. However, the reality is that as the bipartisan confrontation intensifies in the National Assembly, the doors to cooperation are narrowing.
The National Assembly is moving into serious bipartisan confrontation after the brief 'honeymoon period' following the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration. As the Democratic Party pushes forward with the processing of contentious bills such as the three broadcasting laws, the Commercial Act amendment, and the Yellow Envelope Act, the People Power Party has warned of a filibuster during the last plenary session of the July extraordinary National Assembly (scheduled for August 4th). There is a high likelihood that most of the contentious bills will carry over into the August extraordinary National Assembly due to the filibuster.
On July 30th, the Democratic Party launched a comprehensive response special committee to support the 'three special prosecutions,' with expectations that the special committee's activities are primarily aimed at the People Power Party.
Kim Byeong-gi, the Democratic Party's floor leader, stated during the party's highest committee meeting, 'The way for the People Power Party to survive is to cooperate with the special prosecution investigation,' and added, 'I hope the special prosecution will thoroughly uncover the truth of the destruction of democracy and the corruption of state affairs committed by Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Keon-hee through a thorough investigation.'
On that day, Representative Jung promised the immediate activation of the 'three major task forces,' which were pledges during the primary election, as his inaugural remarks. He stated in his acceptance speech, 'I will activate the prosecutor reform TF, media reform TF, and judicial reform TF immediately after the convention ends,' and added, 'I will complete the three reform efforts before Chuseok.'
Representative Jung emphasized, 'We must thoroughly punish and hold accountable the leaders of the rebellion, specifically Yoon Suk-yeol, who still show no signs of repentance, and their accomplices,' stating, 'Just as the French Republic was not built through tolerance, Korea must also thoroughly punish those guilty of rebellion crimes. The party will lead the charge to eradicate rebellion with total effort.'