[Exclusive] National Assembly Library Had '0' Auditorium Rental Rejections in 4 Years... Rules Tightened Late Amid 'May 18 Debate' Controversy

Materials from the Office of Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Jeon Yonggi
All 1,551 auditorium applications approved... effectiveness of prior-approval system questioned
Order to revise rules issued the day before the event... UK and German parliaments restrict events promoting hatred and discrimination

Although the National Assembly Library auditorium operates under a prior-approval system, all 1,551 rental applications submitted over the past four years were approved, according to recent findings. It was only after controversy over a “May 18-related debate” hosted by Lee Jin-sook of the People Power Party in August that rules restricting auditorium use were tightened.

According to documents submitted by the National Assembly Library to Jeon Yong-gi of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly Steering Committee, applications to rent the auditorium totaled 1,551 from 2022 to 2025. All 824 applications for the main auditorium and all 727 for the smaller auditorium were approved, with not a single application rejected.

The National Assembly Library began revising its internal rules on auditorium use ahead of the debate hosted by Lee this August. At 4 p.m. on August 12, the day before the event, the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly asked the library to review whether the event could be canceled. An hour later, the library director reportedly ordered a revision to the rules, but the debate went ahead as scheduled the following day.

The National Assembly Library revised its auditorium-use rules on August 20, a week after the event. The revision clarified the criteria for restricting approval, including cases involving defamation of individuals or groups, and established an advisory committee on use permits. It also allowed the library to reject applications if event plans were not submitted, and introduced penalty points and restrictions on use by co-organizing groups.

Critics say the National Assembly Library should clarify the criteria for restricting facility use, as major legislatures overseas have done, and establish an effective preliminary review system. Germany’s Bundestag applies standards requiring compliance with the free democratic basic order to events involving outside participants. The UK House of Commons prohibits the use of its event venues for events intended to incite hatred, violence, or discrimination, and allows bookings to be canceled if an event could damage the legislature’s honor or reputation.

“The fact that not a single event was rejected over four years, despite the existence of rules to restrict events that could undermine the dignity of the National Assembly, means that the review process was effectively not functioning,” Jeon said. “Our National Assembly must establish an effective preliminary review system to ensure it does not become a stage for distorting history, glorifying dictatorship, or inciting hatred and discrimination.”

Supreme Council member Jeon Yonggi speaks at a Supreme Council meeting. Yonhap News

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.