On the evening of the 26th, not long after the National Assembly's plenary session ended, the long-missed chant "Go, National Assembly" echoed across the National Assembly field. Lawmakers from both parties who had traded sharp barbs in the chamber stood side by side on the pitch in red uniforms. It was the day the National Assembly Football Federation played a friendly match against the press corps covering the Assembly.
The National Assembly Football Federation, a lawmakers' group launched in 1997, has fostered camaraderie and cooperation among lawmakers for about 30 years, holding events such as Korea-Japan parliamentary matches. With sharp clashes between the parties now an everyday occurrence, it was a fresh sight to see ruling and opposition lawmakers become a "one team," trading passes and shouting "fighting."
From the Democratic Party, "the playmaker of Paldal" lawmaker Kim Young-jin served as manager, with lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi as goalkeeper and lawmakers Kim Gi-pyo, Kim Dong-a, Moon Geum-ju, Min Byung-deok, Mo Kyung-jong, Park Yong-gap, Park Hee-seung, Lee Jae-gang, Cheon Joon-ho, and Han Byeong-do taking the field as players. From the People Power Party, lawmakers Koo Ja-geun, Kim Hyeong-dong, Park Sung-min, Park Hyung-soo, Lee Sang-hwi, and Jeong Dong-man joined. The Social Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Han Chang-min also took part. As for women lawmakers, Baek Seung-a and Lim Oh-kyung started as strikers up front.
The lawmakers' football federation, turned into a one team across party lines, beat the press corps 3-2. In the first half, People Power Party lawmaker Lee Sang-hwi broke through on the left to score the opener. The press corps then scored to make it 1-1, but People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyung-soo feinted a pass and blasted a powerful shot near the penalty box to find the net.
Seven minutes into the second half, the press corps scored an equalizer to make it 2-2, but around the 13th minute, a dramatic clincher came. Off a corner kick, when "the National Assembly's Messi," Democratic Party lawmaker Moon Geum-ju, sent the ball in, Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Oh-kyung, standing in front of goal, headed in the ball after a single bounce. True to a former national handball team member, her athletic instincts were outstanding.
Both parties used the event to stress the spirit of cooperation. National Assembly Speaker Jo Jung-sik appeared wearing the "No. 0" jersey and said, "From the speaker's chair, everyone's faces look stiff, but here their faces are bright," adding, "This seems to be exactly the spirit of unity and cooperation in the National Assembly."
Democratic Party floor leader Han Byeong-do said, "As with today's soccer, I hope the National Assembly can dribble together and score together for people's livelihoods and the national interest." People Power Party lawmaker Park Sung-min met with reporters right after the match and said, "It's the first time I shouted 'Go, National Assembly' at the National Assembly," adding, "It was meaningful and a rare pleasure for lawmakers from both parties to gather and run with one heart."