Na Kyung-won Demands Immediate Return of Legislative Chair: A Call to Action for the People Power Party

[The Public = Reporter Oh Doo-hwan] People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won seized on the resignation of former Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair Choo Mi-ae to demand that the chairmanship be returned to the People Power Party immediately, sharply criticizing the Democratic Party.

On March 23, Na wrote on Facebook that “Chair Choo Mi-ae turned the committee chair into a platform for her own campaign and has only now stepped down,” adding that “the chairmanship is not spoils for the Democratic Party.”

He referenced the nine months since Lee Jae-myung’s administration took office and accused the Democratic Party of converting its vaunted reforms into an effort to dismantle the prosecution and undermine the judicial system. “They trampled the foundations of the judiciary solely to erase Lee Jae-myung’s charges and shield him, then labeled it ‘mission accomplished,’” he said, calling that characterization outrageous.

Na described the situation as national chaos and blamed the Democratic Party's legislative tactics. “When they monopolized both the National Assembly speakership and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair, a legislative rush began,” he said. “The public watched unchecked, distorted lawmaking threaten democracy.”

He also denounced the party’s push to retain control over committee chair assignments in the second half of the 22nd National Assembly as “an arrogant declaration of dictatorship.” “Rather than reflect, they intend to continue monopolizing committee chairs,” he said, “which runs counter to democratic norms.”

Targeting former chair Choo directly, Na added, “The Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair is not a stepping stone for a politician’s gubernatorial run.” He argued that by keeping the post even after “the vanguard of judicial destruction” departed, the Democratic Party is effectively signaling it will not halt its legislative authoritarianism.

He urged the party to “immediately return the committee chairmanship to the People Power Party if they have any conscience,” stressing that this would be “the first step toward normalizing the National Assembly.”

Political observers say partisan clashes over the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair are likely to intensify.