President Lee Jae-myung on the 17th directly criticized the National Policy Committee, which has a Chairperson from the People Power Party, saying, "Because the opposition party holds the chair, nothing is getting done. This is a real problem." The current Chairperson of the National Policy Committee is People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Han-hong.
On the day, Lee presided over a Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Sejong and said that an amendment to the Commercial Act to revitalize the stock market and legislation to support the shipbuilding, defense, and nuclear power industries should be handled promptly. He added, "This is such a critical time, and while there is nothing we can do, it seems extremely unfair." He publicly noted that the relevant bills are not being properly handled by the National Policy Committee, the competent standing committee.
Lee said, "Isn't the basic principle of democracy to respect the minority in line with the authority entrusted by the people, discuss and gather opinions as much as possible, and, if that fails, decide by the majority's view?" He then told his aides, "It seems like the standing committee is not even being convened at all, so go to the National Assembly and, even if you have to plead, try to make something happen." He also said, "Amending the Commercial Act or the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, especially in the finance area, is truly serious and important, isn't it?"
He went on, "You can't handle the country's future like this. The National Assembly should debate and vote, so what happens if it doesn't do anything at all? If the Chairperson is from the opposition, does that mean nothing can be done?" He added, "Go to the National Assembly and, even if you have to make a plea, ask them to convene a meeting," and said, "It may seem useless, but we still have to do it."