Photo: Kwon Yeong-jin (right) leaves the office of Jeong Jeom-sik (middle) after apologizing for physical confrontation. Credit: Yonhap News.
Not too long ago, physical confrontation was a common sight at the National Assembly 국회. Especially during the times of military dictatorship, opposition lawmakers standing athwart the cronies of the junta, physically blocking them from railroading the legislative process, was considered a valid defense of democracy. But after the democratization in 1987, the physical confrontations increasingly became an international embarrassment, and all but disappeared since the 2010s.
But at the People Power Party 국민의힘 this week, the old school parliamentarian tactics was back. On July 23, two-term lawmaker Kwon Yeong-jin 권영진 barged to the office of the conservative Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik 정점식 원내대표, screaming obscenities that he was assigned to the Interior Committee 행정안전위원회 rather than the more powerful Land and Transportation Committee 국토교통위원회 or the Industry and Energy Committee 산업자원위원회. Kwon grabbed Jeong by the collar while demanding a reassignment, and also grabbed former Floor Leader Song Eon-seok 송언석 who stepped in to break up the fight.
Although Kwon later apologized, the PPP leadership is not in a forgiving mood. PPP’s spokeswoman Choi Su-jin 최수진 대변인 said on July 26 that Kwon’s action was “unacceptable,” and Kwon should “make a decision on his status” - namely, resign from the party. On July 27, the PPP Executive Committee 최고위원회 advised Kwon to leave the party, or face expulsion.
