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By Yi Whan-woo
The acting president, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, said Wednesday he will actively communicate with lawmakers amid the opposition parties' criticism that he is excessively intervening in state affairs despite his temporary position.
In a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun, Hwang also said he would run the government in accordance with the people's wishes in the aftermath of President Park Geun-hye's impeachment.
"It's really tough to bear a heavy responsibility when the political situation is so extreme and severe," he said in Chung's office at the National Assembly. "I will work closely to consult with Mr. Chung as well as other lawmakers to stabilize state affairs. I will also firmly uphold the people's wishes and work to implement them in state affairs in a comprehensive manner."
This was Hwang's first visit to the Assembly since he took the interim job, Friday.
Hwang offered to meet Chung amid the opposition bloc's demand that he consult the opposition-led parliament in advance before making decisions on government affairs.
The three opposition parties — the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the People's Party and the Justice Party — have been critical of Hwang for "crossing the line" over his announcement concerning the country's top economic policymaker, Monday.
Hwang said Yoo Il-ho will stay on as strategy and finance minister and deputy prime minister for economic affairs. His decision was seen as an intervention in personnel management, which was contrary to the opposition's demands.
"I give my word that I will communicate sufficiently with the Assembly," Hwang said. "I know it's a complicated matter but I sincerely wanted to show it through meeting Chung."
Meanwhile, the DPK and the People's Party rejected Cheong Wa Dae's request Wednesday to allow Hwang to skip an interpellation session scheduled for Dec. 20 and 21.
Citing a state of emergency, Hur Won-je, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, asked for the Assembly's understanding over Hwang's possible absence during separate meetings with DPK floor leader Rep. Woo Sang-ho and People's Party floor leader Park Jie-won.
But they both declined, saying, "Hwang must show up before the Assembly and explain his roadmap for running the government."
They said Hwang should do so in return for the opposition's approval of him taking charge of the government despite public opinion that he is partly responsible for the political crisis and not qualified to serve as acting president.
"It would be not be acceptable for Hwang to ignore the National Assembly," Woo said. "The government led by Hwang is an extension of the Park administration. I warn Hwang that he can be kicked out of office by the people if he continues to show a biased view on government-related issues."
