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'Motion to remove minister is an arrogant move,' says lawmaker

'Motion to remove minister is an arrogant move,' says lawmaker

Posted September. 24, 2016 07:45,   

Updated September. 24, 2016 08:26

한국어
Rep. Hwang Ju-hong of the People’s Party is in the news a lot these days by criticizing other lawmakers for their submission to motion to dismiss Agriculture Minister Kim Jae-soo as he once blasted the minister by calling him as “a real estate investing genius.”

The party secretary of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, the lawmaker issued a press release on Aug. 29 before the confirmation hearing. He criticized Agriculture Minister Kim by saying that he was busy to pursue his own interest by investing in real estate while working as a civil servant. As the floor leaders of the three opposition parties agreed to submit a motion to seek Minister Kim’s resignation on Sept. 5, however, Rep. Hwang opposed their position the following day and argued to review the motion in the general meeting of the Assembly members.

He also posted a long piece of writing, which pointed out the unfairness of the motion on his website on Friday. "The issues raised in the confirmation hearing could not be served as the reason to propose the resignation of the minister according to the purpose of law and Constitution," he wrote. "The National Assembly is not legally obliged to take follow-up actions with regard to the confirmation hearing once the progress report was accepted or unaccepted."

“People who are pushed into legal, logical, and realistic corners (the Minjoo Party and the Justice Party) insist that the minister should be dismissed as his writing posted on the mobile community of Kyungpook National University Alumni on the inauguration day (Sept. 4) constitutes sufficient reason for dismissal. Their argument is completely absurd," he also said. "Who would take the responsibility for poor supervision and partial setbacks on the agricultural administration and ensuing damages to the agriculture and farmers, which were caused by the controversies over the motion for resignation.”

Some within the People’s Party and the Minjoo Party valued Hwang's comment high by saying that it is a word of conviction.



길진균기자 leon@donga.com