Ruling and Opposition Parties Agree to Hold Extraordinary National Assembly in February... Supreme Court Justice Confirmation Hearings Also to Be Conducted

Meeting of the Three-Party Floor Deputy Leaders
Agreement to Hold the February Extraordinary Session Within February... Specific Schedule to Be Discussed Later
Chair of the Supreme Court Justice Confirmation Special Committee from the Democratic Party, One Member from Bareunmirae Party Also Attending

Yoon Hoo-duk, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Han-pyo, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Liberty Korea Party, and Lee Dong-seop, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Bareunmirae Party, clasp hands before holding a meeting on the 3rd at the National Assembly to discuss the legislative schedule for the February extraordinary session./Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to hold the February extraordinary session of the National Assembly within February. A confirmation hearing for Supreme Court justices will also be conducted during this session. However, the specific schedule will be determined through further discussions.

Kim Han-pyo, the Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Liberty Korea Party, said at a briefing after a meeting of senior deputy floor leaders of the three parties on the 3rd at 3 p.m., "The extraordinary session will last for 30 days, and the specific schedule will be discussed again later." He added, "The special committee for the Supreme Court justice confirmation hearing will be formed immediately, and the chairperson of the committee will be from the Democratic Party."

Lee Dong-seop, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Bareunmirae Party, explained, "We have agreed to recommend one member for the hearing committee from the Bareunmirae Party as well," adding, "The committee will be composed of six members from the Democratic Party, five from the Liberty Korea Party, one from the Bareunmirae Party, and one from non-negotiating groups."

Yoon Hu-duk, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party, said, "I proposed prioritizing the passage of 224 livelihood bills, including the revision of the Quarantine Act, and suggested forming a bipartisan special committee on the new coronavirus response, similar to the National Assembly's MERS countermeasure special committee formed in 2015." He also stated, "Due to concerns about the new coronavirus, I proposed that parties mutually agree to refrain from and postpone face-to-face election campaigns."

Since the February session of the National Assembly usually opens without difficulties, it is expected that the specific schedule agreement will be reached promptly. However, the Liberty Korea Party has set conditions for the Democratic Party, including an apology for the fast-track legislative process situation and the simultaneous handling of the Quarantine Act revision bill proposed by Liberty Korea Party lawmakers.

Senior Deputy Floor Leader Kim said, "I requested an apology from the Democratic Party regarding the previous fast-track legislative process situation, the year-end budget rush, and the fast-track passage of the election law and the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office establishment law." He also proposed, "Since the currently submitted Quarantine Act revision bill focuses on prevention, I suggest handling it together with the bill submitted by Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Won Yoo-chul, which focuses on post-treatment."

When asked about the start date of the extraordinary session, Senior Deputy Floor Leader Yoon replied, "We have agreed to open it within February, and the specific schedule will be arranged through ongoing discussions." He added, "It will not be late," and said, "We will continue consultations among senior deputy floor leaders. Once there is some progress or approach on the schedule, we will prepare for a meeting of floor leaders."

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