[Joo Young-jin's News Briefing]

When quoting this interview, please clearly credit the program 'SBS <Joo Young-jin's News Briefing>'. Copyright belongs to SBS.

■ Broadcast: SBS <Joo Young-jin's News Briefing> Mon–Fri (14:00–15:20)
■ Host: Anchor Joo Young-jin
■ Guest: Na Kyung-won, People Power Party Representative
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● Interview with People Power Party Representative Na Kyung-won

"DPK's Insistence on Holding the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair Is to 'Withdraw Indictments'"
"The National Assembly Speaker and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair Must Be Shared to Have Checks and Balances in Parliament"
"If the DPK Monopolizes the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair Until the End, Normalization of the National Assembly Is Impossible"
"I Applied for a Labor-Related Standing Committee... Seo Young-kyo, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair, Must Resign"
"The Results of This Local Election Put the PPP on Life Support"
"The PPP Must Hope for Change Amid Stability... Dragging Down the Party Leader Will Not Resolve the Issue"
"It Is Time for the PPP to Focus on the Struggle Against the Ruling Party... The Leader's Future Should Be Resolved Quietly and Smoothly"
"I Want to Make a Party That Is Loved by the Public Again... I Have Deep Concerns About the Party's Future"
"Integrity Is the Most Important Aspect of an Election... We Must Actively Pursue Re-elections in Problematic Constituencies"
"The Sword of Disciplinary Action Should Be Wielded as a Last Resort and Kept to a Minimum"

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: We are joined by Representative Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party. Welcome.

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: Hello.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Yesterday (June 30), the Democratic Party unilaterally elected the chairs of 11 standing committees. Because of that, the People Power Party seems to be quite furious right now, isn't it?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: Actually, they rammed through two things yesterday (June 30). One was the motion of consent for the Prime Minister's appointment, and the other was the election of standing committee chairs. Yesterday, our senior lawmakers went to meet the National Assembly Speaker in advance. Since it was the Speaker's debut, we asked him not to do both, but to at least process only the Prime Minister's appointment consent motion and give us just a day or two for the election of the standing committee chairs. But the ruling party seems truly terrifying these days. I thought Speaker Cho Jung-sik would be somewhat reasonable, but he pushed both through anyway. On top of that, the core issue is that they took all the key standing committee chairs, didn't they? But it's not a matter of numbers. As I always argue, "You don't have to give us everything, just give us one." We are asking for the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. As you may know, since the start of this 22nd National Assembly, they have rammed through 330 bills in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. 330 bills.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: The chairs of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee were Jung Chung-rae and Choo Mi-ae.

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: Yes. In the past, it was 10 cases in four years, or 7 cases in four years—that was during the 20th and 19th Assemblies. But now, while ramming through 330 bills, they have completely dismantled the prosecution, haven't they? But why do they want to hold the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair? The biggest reason is to withdraw indictments, and because President Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party is trying to unilaterally drive various state affairs, we feel "we must block this at all costs." However, I don't see an answer. They are just pushing through with sheer force.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Why is the People Power Party so determined to take the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: As you know, the National Assembly Speaker and the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee must be shared between different parties to ensure checks and balances in the National Assembly. Since it acts as a gateway, sharing it allows Yadang's voice to be heard. Isn't that the true spirit of parliament? The spirit of consensus taking precedence over majority rule is the parliamentary spirit, but if things go this way, parliamentary democracy will ultimately cease to exist. That is how I see it.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Representative Na, until recently, you were in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the end of the first half of the term.

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: Yes. They didn't let me serve as the executive secretary (gansa) of the committee until the very end.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: So in the end, you couldn't serve as the executive secretary.

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: I left without being able to serve as the executive secretary.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Practically an executive secretary. Then, will you continue to serve on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in the second half of the term, given the current situation? But the public probably expects that things will eventually normalize, right?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: It cannot be normalized. If the Democratic Party holds the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair until the end, it will eventually lead to a phase of withdrawing indictments to clear the President's charges, as I mentioned, and they will push through various other bills they want to pass. I believe they will pass those bills to the very end. I could continue to play my role in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, but this time, looking at recent developments starting with the semiconductor investment in the Honam region, they have created an environment where it is virtually impossible to do business. Yesterday (June 30), I don't know if you saw the "geonpok" (construction site violence) remarks. We previously punished the so-called violent labor unions in the construction industry, didn't we? The President expressed regret over the Supreme Court's guilty verdict, but I think labor issues will be very important. Therefore, I applied for a standing committee that handles labor-related issues.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: In the Democratic Party, Representative Seo Young-kyo was elected as the chair. Representative Seo seemed to suggest that you, Representative Na, "should work in a committee other than the Legislation and Judiciary Committee." Did you see that?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: I saw the article, but I had applied for a different committee from the beginning. I felt that I should focus on labor issues this time, so I applied for another standing committee. I believe Chair Seo Young-kyo should resign. As I mentioned this morning (July 1), while serving as the chair of the parliamentary investigation committee related to the withdrawal of indictments, she has practically been building up to the withdrawal of indictments, starting with the "salmon and alcohol party." Even before that, she spread false rumors, such as the alleged four-person meeting with Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, claiming that "the Chief Justice agreed to look favorably upon President Lee Jae-myung's case." Therefore, I am saying that she is not suitable.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: I see. Don't you think the public would feel more at ease if Floor Leader Han Byung-do and Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik negotiated well to quickly normalize the standing committee issues?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: That ship has already sailed. What is there to do when they have already taken the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair? Our choice now is whether to secure at least a few standing committee chairs so that Yadang's voice can be heard in those areas, or to just throw them away and let the Democratic Party do whatever they want.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Sharing the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair for one year each could also be an option, don't you think?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: This has never happened before. Since the 17th National Assembly, it has always been shared. This is too much.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: In the past, during the 21st National Assembly, didn't the Democratic Party take all 18 committee chairs at one point?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: During the 21st National Assembly, the Democratic Party did that, but they faced a backlash and returned them.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: After renegotiating.

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: But the current 22nd National Assembly is even more lawless. That is my view.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: I see. Nevertheless, the ruling party and Yadang still need to negotiate, and we hope this issue will be resolved. I am curious about your thoughts on the recent internal situation of your party. There are voices calling for Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok to step down following the local election results, but Leader Jang made it clear publicly yesterday (June 30), saying, "No matter how much the lawmakers tell me to quit, I will not step down." What is your take on this, Representative Na?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: I think it depends on how we interpret the local election results. I believe they "put us on life support," and we must show reform and change in our party. But there is also this: while calling for reform and change, our supporters and the public also hope for change amid stability. So, there has been a lot of controversy over whether the leader should resign or not. Right now, the Democratic Party is also noisy with internal strife, which in a way stagnates and lowers their approval ratings. For us, we have a lot of work to do, not only with the Lee Jae-myung administration over the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair issue, but also starting with the withdrawal of the President's indictments and the semiconductor investment in the Honam region. Is it right for us to always consume ourselves with internal party conflicts? That is what I am thinking about. And in any case, if the leader takes responsibility and steps down, these issues would be resolved, but if he is dragged down, it won't be settled easily. Therefore, we need to take our time to build a consensus on how to bring about change amid stability, and work through these issues one by one. That is my view.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Do you think that is possible?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: Although both sides are clashing strongly right now, I believe resolving that is what internal party politics is all about.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Resolving that is internal party politics, change amid stability. But haven't you thought that one of the reasons it is difficult for the People Power Party's voice to gain strong support from the public is the issue of leadership?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: I do think about that. That's why we discussed how to shape those aspects during the general meeting of lawmakers, and Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik also said, "We will continue to discuss this in the future." Right now, we have the National Election Commission (NEC) issue, among many other issues, don't we? So, overall, now is the time to focus on the struggle against the ruling party. Rather than resolving this noisily through internal party politics, I believe we should resolve it quietly and smoothly.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: But don't you think this issue is difficult to resolve quietly and smoothly? Because there are clearly lawmakers who speak with different voices. Isn't it difficult to resolve quietly?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: It seems a consensus is forming among them as well to first focus on the struggle against the ruling party. So let's wait and see.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Around when do you foresee this being resolved? By this year's regular National Assembly session?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: Setting a specific timeframe—politics is truly a living organism, isn't it? It can always change depending on the situation or certain events. But what is important is that we have a question of principles, and then the question of what our ultimate goal is. Although there are some turbulences within the party and our supporters have very diverse thoughts, in the end, it is all about winning the general election and reclaiming the next administration. That is the single, unified thought. I think the reason the public put us on life support in this local election is that their feeling of "Isn't the Lee Jae-myung administration a bit strange? Strange?" reached a tipping point and exploded. We need to be able to embrace that. Broadly speaking, it is not just about rebuilding our party, but also about rebuilding politics itself, which has gone missing, and figuring out how to rebuild South Korea's security and economy, which are currently full of worries. I believe we should align our timing and actions with these grand goals.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Let me ask you this way. Representative Na, you originally had the intention to run for party leader but were unable to do so for various reasons. If you were the party leader and the results of the last local election turned out like this, what choice would you have made? Have you ever been asked this question?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: I was not the leader. Please stop asking about hypothetical scenarios that didn't happen.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Some politicians say being the party leader is a romance. Do you also feel that way, Representative Na? At least to this extent.

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: Well, more than anything else, there have been various political events recently, and I felt that our party must not be ruined too much. It has already been 22 years since I joined this party. Recently, the party has been severely damaged and turned away by the public. I wanted to rebuild this party, place it on a solid foundation, make it loved by the public again, and turn it into a party that allows people to think about the future. Because of that love for the party—just as I have never once left the party—I have very deep concerns about the party's future. That is what I want to say.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: When you say your "concerns are deep," it sounds like you have a lot of weight on your mind and are thinking about many things. It also sounds like you are willing to take on that much greater responsibility, doesn't it?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: As a senior member of the party, I cannot do politics without that responsibility and sense of calling. Naturally, I feel that responsibility and weight.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Since Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was elected, have you spoken with him on the phone or met with him?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: Yes, we met once. I am glad Mayor Oh was elected. Also, his inauguration ceremony for the city administration was held today (July 1). So I expect him to do well.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: I see. I don't think you will give a clear answer even if I ask further, so I will stop here. Even if I ask whether you intend to run for party leader, I don't think you will give a clear answer.

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: Now is not the time for that, is it?

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: I see. Due to the shortage of ballots, many citizens are continuing to protest at Olympic Park, and a parliamentary investigation is currently underway. However, Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok is talking about re-elections and even saying he will personally defend the case. There are counterarguments within the party, such as "Is a re-election realistically possible? Since Oh Se-hoon became the mayor of Seoul, are we saying we should hold a re-election here as well?" What exactly is your opinion, Representative Na?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: In principle, I believe that integrity is extremely important in voting and elections. However, the problem this time is that the fairness and integrity of the vote have ultimately collapsed, hasn't it? According to the precedents of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany, trials for re-elections were actually held over two years. As you know, elections follow the principle of exhausting administrative remedies, so they go to court after going through a petition process. But if you look at our Public Official Election Act, it says not to invalidate an election unless it affects the outcome of the election—in other words, unless the winner changes. Basically, it says not to hold a re-election. I believe that very clause is what made our National Election Commission (NEC) what it is today. In short, it has become an incompetent, corrupt, and half-hearted NEC. Looking at this situation, I see it as an unacceptable deprivation of the right to vote, which is why the very first thing I did was propose an amendment to the Public Official Election Act. I have introduced an election bill that allows for retroactive application and enables re-elections in cases where voting is suspended or ballots are insufficient due to reasons attributable to the NEC. Therefore, I actively support pursuing re-elections in problematic constituencies, but this is an area that ultimately goes through the law. So, I believe my job right now is to make efforts to quickly pass this amendment to the Public Official Election Act.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: I see. But for that bill to pass, wouldn't you need the cooperation of Democratic Party lawmakers?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: At present, we have no choice but to see that possibility as extremely low. As long as the current law stands, it is difficult for the court to rule in our favor. That is how I see it.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: One of the internal party issues is disciplinary action by Party Leader Jang Dong-hyeok. There have been so many requests for disciplinary action, which were temporarily suspended due to the election, but now they have piled up so much that it has become an unavoidable situation. There are concerns within the party that "disciplinary politics is starting again." Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik also mentioned this, didn't he?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: That's right. Disciplinary action and politics are words that do not go well together. They are difficult to reconcile. Of course, there are principles based on the party constitution and rules to establish party discipline. In that sense, there may be targets for disciplinary action, and there may be parts where disciplinary action is unavoidable. However, I believe a political party is, after all, a political group, and we must resolve this wisely. Therefore, I think the sword of disciplinary action should be wielded as a last resort and kept to a minimum.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: You must have met Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik when he met with lawmakers by their parliamentary terms, right?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: Yes.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Did you talk about "change amid stability" back then as well?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: I think the thoughts of our lawmakers are generally similar. However, I believe there are some differences in methodology regarding how to shape it well or the speed of it. What is all of this about, after all? Isn't it about "what kind of party we should build and in what shape to regain the public's trust in the next general election"? All of those concerns and their weight weigh heavily on us. For that purpose, the concerns deepen on how to integrate the party while also changing it, reforming it, and bringing a sense of stability. That is why I find myself holding my tongue.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: It's difficult. It's not an easy task.

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: I would love to speak out refreshingly and say "someone should leave, someone should come in, someone shouldn't come in," but politics is not that simple.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Does that mean you cannot easily say Representative Han Dong-hoon should not come in, or that you cannot easily tell him to come in?

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: In any case, I believe we must always contemplate what would be best for winning the general election, rather than unconditionally excluding or unconditionally integrating someone.

▷ Joo Young-jin / Anchor: Then, there will surely come a time when we can discuss this refreshingly. We will invite you back then. Today, we heard Representative Na Kyung-won't thoughts at this current point in time. Thank you for your time.

▶ Na Kyung-won / People Power Party Representative: Thank you.

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