Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers on the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee called Monday for their People Power Party counterparts to return to the Assembly, saying the legislature must be normalized urgently to protect livelihoods, strengthen AI competitiveness and advance national future strategies.
Han Jun-ho, the Democratic Party's floor manager on the committee and a lawmaker from Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, joined fellow Democratic Party committee members at a press conference at the National Assembly's media hall Monday morning. "The People Power Party has refused to participate in standing committees for more than a month, citing negotiations over the composition of the Assembly," Han said. "They are putting political conflict ahead of people's livelihoods and choosing to dig in rather than take responsibility."
The lawmakers added that disagreements should be resolved through debate. "If you think differently, debate it. If you have objections to a bill, discuss them in committee and put them to a vote in the plenary session — that is the work of the National Assembly, and that is democracy," they said. "Vacating the Assembly means abandoning the responsibility the people have entrusted to you."
The committee members stressed the role of their panel, which oversees AI, research and development, and broadcasting and communications policy, saying legislation and budget reviews needed to secure the country's future competitiveness could no longer be delayed.
"The Lee Jae-myung government and the Democratic Party are currently pursuing three mega-projects as national strategy — an AI highway, an energy highway and an advanced industrialization highway — to create good jobs and broaden the foundation for regional growth," they said. "But the government cannot complete this alone. It requires legislation from the National Assembly, budget deliberation and responsible policy discussion."
They doubled down on the need to normalize the Assembly, warning that the world would not wait. "In technology competition and industrial competition, speed ultimately decides the outcome," they said. "The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea cannot be the only one standing still."
The Democratic Party lawmakers also directed pointed remarks at the People Power Party. "You must stop holding the National Assembly hostage," they said. "Rather than seeking justification outside the Assembly, you must face the judgment of the people inside it. Competing through debate and taking responsibility through votes — that is the duty of a lawmaker."
bigroot@heraldcorp.com
