Ruling party seeks discipline for opposition floor leader
Rep. Kang Byung-won, left, spokesman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) submits a petition against main opposition Liberty Korea Party floor leader Rep. Na Kyung-won to the National Assembly Ethics Committee, Wednesday, asking it to investigate defamatory remarks she made against President Moon Jae-in during a speech at the National Assembly. Yonhap
Wrangling escalates over Na Kyung-won's speech
By Park Ji-won
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) referred Liberty Korea Party (LKP) floor leader Rep. Na Kyung-won to the National Assembly Ethics Committee, Wednesday, over “insulting” remarks she made about President Moon Jae-in.
The move comes one day after Na described President Moon as the “chief spokesman” for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a speech at the Assembly while criticizing his policy toward North Korea.
In a petition submitted to the committee, the DPK demanded stern disciplinary measures against Na, including depriving her of her Assembly seat. However, this would require support from the LKP.
Responding to this, the LKP said it would refer DPK leader Rep. Lee Hae-chan and floor leader Rep. Hong Young-pyo to the ethics committee for “ignoring” the main opposition party; as members of both parties traded barbs over Na's words.
While criticizing Moon, Na also called the government a “left-leaning dictatorship,” and “left-leaning administration,” which led the DPK to accuse her of tarnishing the reputation of the Assembly, the presidency and the people.
“She used the term left-winger more than 10 times as well as North Korean followers. Listening to her insulting the President and the people, I thought she had lost herself after her party lost power. I felt sorry for her,” Lee said during a meeting of the DPK's Supreme Council.
“Overall, her expressions were almost cursing the government and ruling party.”
Hong added, “The LKP is trying to do politics based on a far-right, anti-peace and hateful ideology. If Na doesn't retract what she said, the DPK will take strong measures.”
Rep. Sul Hoon, a Supreme Council member, said “I assume the speech was written by the right-wing Taegukgi group, Park Geun-hye's followers.”
Na, meanwhile, criticized the DPK's decision to refer her to the ethics committee, saying “The move is the same as referring the people to the committee and stopping them from exercising free speech.” She added that the LKP will submit complaints about Lee and Hong, for interrupting her speech.
She also issued a warning, stating, “If the four parties try and fast-track electoral reform, the LKP will go all-out to stop this be all available means.”
Meanwhile, the National Assembly passed nine bills during a plenary session the same day and listened to a speech by Bareunmirae Party floor leader Kim Kwan-young. The bills includes one regarding fine dust, which designated it a natural disaster. This enables the government to use taxes to reduce its harmful effects and pay for any restoration work needed, as well as to designate affected areas as special disaster zones.
Other bills on the dust included a proposal to boost purchasing of liquid national gas (LNG) powered cars and a measure requiring all schools to install air purifiers.