New members take the oath

The National Assembly convened the second and third plenary meetings of the 315th extraordinary session on April 25 and 26. In the meetings, the members held interpellations on politics, foreign affairs, unification and security, coming down hard on government officials over allegations of the National Intelligence Service (NIS)’s intervention in the last presidential election, transfer of the wartime operational control, and measures to cope with issues regarding North Korea and Japan’s recent conservative shift. 

In particular, the rival parties fiercely disputed over the NIS allegations. The ruling Saenuri Party (SP) members accused the Democratic United Party (DUP) of detaining a female employee of the NIS, who, the DUP argued, posted pro-government comments online during the last presidential election campaign. The DUP insisted on a thorough investigation and the President’s apology. 

The parties also stood firmly against each other over the mixed responses to North Korean problems among government agencies. The SP emphasized inter-agency coordination and decisive countermeasures while the DUP insisted on proposal for dialogue and dispatch of a special envoy to Pyeongyang. 

During the interpellations on economy, education, society and culture held on April 26, they pressed Prime Minister Chung Hong-won and other cabinet ministers on the question of economic revival measures. 

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Yoon Jin-sook, who came under sharp criticism during her confirmation hearing, attended the interpellation for the first time. She asked for the National Assembly’s cooperation, promising to make utmost efforts to forge an era of happiness. 

Before the interpellations, the three winners of the last by-election held on April 24, Reps. Kim Moo-sung (SP), Lee One-ku (SP) and Ahn Cheol-soo (independent) took their oath. Rep. Kim, who will be serving his fifth term, read out the oath on behalf of all, and pledged to be faithful to the oath throughout his term. 

Rep. Lee promised politics that can come up with new drive for the nation’s development, and Rep. Ahn said that he will always be humble as a beginner in politics and listen to other Assembly members from the ruling and opposition parties alike.