Joo Ho-young, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly and six-term lawmaker representing Daegu Suseong-gap, declared on Sunday that he would consider leaving the People Power Party or resigning from his seat if the party takes "ultimately disappointing measures" on the Daegu-North Gyeongsang administrative merger.
The statement comes as criticism mounts against the ruling party after the Special Act on Daegu-North Gyeongsang Integration was put on hold at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
"Passage of the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration bill is possible within this parliamentary session," Joo said during an appearance on the YouTube channel 'Manna GO.'
At the committee's plenary session on Saturday, a special bill for South Jeolla and Gwangju provinces passed, but action on the Daegu-North Gyeongsang bill was deferred. Committee Chair Choo Mi-ae cited opposition from the People Power Party leadership and Daegu City Council as reasons for the delay.
"The party leadership publicly expresses support in principle while actually harboring opposition," Joo said.
The People Power Party's floor leadership reportedly notified lawmakers from Daegu and North Gyeongsang constituencies that a vote for and against the merger would be held on Monday.
Joo criticized this approach as "a cowardly measure that promotes division." He argued it was wrong to ask for another vote on a bill that both the Daegu City Council and North Gyeongsang Provincial Council had approved and that was introduced by the city and provincial party chairmen.
"If the special act ultimately fails, lawmakers who opposed it must bear full political responsibility," Joo said.