LKP to resume parliamentary activities to join prosecutor-general nominee's hearing

Rep. Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, leaves after speaking to her party members at the National Assembly, Tuesday. Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) has hinted at resuming its parliamentary activities Tuesday to participate in a National Assembly hearing for Yoon Seok-youl, a nominee for prosecutor-general, after months of boycotting. The conflict between the LKP and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is expected to intensify due to their differing stances on his nomination.

Rep. Na Kyung-won, LKP floor leader, said Tuesday, “It is time for us to diversify our strategy [to fight against the Moon Jae-in administration]. Our first task is to focus on Yoon’s hearing. The LKP will stop the sneaky move to put the prosecution under the power of political forces during the hearing.”

The LKP’s participation in the National Assembly is the first of its kind in about three months since the party started protesting the proceedings of the Assembly, calling for the withdrawal of fast-tracked bills on political and electoral reforms and holding a hearing to evaluate the government’s economic policies.

Due to the boycott, there have been no Assembly sessions and meetings of standing committees for about three months, which resulted in bills and an extra budget bill worth 6.7 trillion won ($5.6 billion) being stuck in limbo at the Assembly. On Monday, meanwhile, four parties excluding the LKP have agreed to open an extra session on Thursday to resume the operation of the National Assembly, while the LKP made it clear that it will not cooperate with the four parties’ moves including reviewing the budget proposal.

So far, other than the hearing for Yoon, it is unlikely for the party to join other Assembly activities, insiders say, as the LKP and the DPK are not making any concessions.

“Na made a toned-down proposal to Rep. Lee In-young, floor leader of the DPK, on Monday over the normalization of the National Assembly. But he just rejected it, which made me upset. It is better for the five parties to resume parliamentary activities,” Rep. Oh Shin-hwan, floor leader of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party, said on Tuesday.

Insiders say the LKP will not agree with the adoption of the confirmation hearing report on Yoon as it did in the past while the DPK continues to support Cheong Wa Dae’s decision. Opposition parties have been calling for the withdrawal of ministerial candidates and constitutional judges who were appointed by President Moon.

It is largely expected that Moon would appoint Yoon regardless of the Assembly’s adoption of the report.

, as its approval is not legally binding for the appointment.