"Another Secret Deal in the National Assembly?" Ruling and Opposition Parties Flooded with Criticism for Protecting 'Million-Won Salaries' Insiders

Increase of Policy Research Committee Members with Million-Won Annual Salaries in the Final Plenary Session of the 20th National Assembly
10 Members Added with 7 Billion Won Budget Allocated Over 5 Years

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The ruling and opposition parties are facing criticism for seemingly uniting to increase their own benefits after passing a revision to the National Assembly rules that raises the number of policy research committee members for negotiation groups during the final plenary session of the 20th National Assembly.

Some have pointed out that this is effectively a reenactment of a so-called 'collusive National Assembly.' Previously, the ruling and opposition parties had agreed on a bill to raise lawmakers' salaries but withdrew it following public backlash.

On the 21st, the National Assembly passed a revision to the 'Rules on the Appointment of Policy Research Committee Members for Negotiation Groups' during the plenary session held the day before, increasing the quota of policy research committee members affiliated with each negotiation group party from 67 to 77.

Policy research committee members are special government officials classified from grade 1 to grade 4. These researchers assist the legislative activities of lawmakers belonging to their negotiation groups under the direction and supervision of the representative lawmaker of their negotiation group.

The floor leader of the negotiation group can recommend appointments and dismissals, and the annual financial cost for the additional personnel is estimated to exceed 100 million KRW per person, totaling around 1 billion KRW. The increase of 10 members, including one grade 1 and nine grade 2 members, will require a budget of 7.035 billion KRW over five years.

The 10 members from grade 1 to grade 4 receive an average annual salary exceeding 100 million KRW funded by taxpayers.

National Assembly Main Chamber
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The problem lies in the fact that some of these high-salary policy research committee positions are effectively filled by party officials dispatched in a secondment-like manner. This has led to growing criticism that the increase in positions is intended to accommodate these individuals.

Some argue that the revision is ultimately aimed at securing positions for their own people and accuse it of abusing legislative power.

Despite fierce disputes in daily politics, the ruling and opposition parties are criticized for colluding when it comes to shared interests.

A 30-something office worker, Mr. A, said, "Show us a National Assembly that works for ordinary people. I don't understand if this is such an important matter to justify the huge budget involved."

Another office worker, Mr. B, pointed out, "The ruling and opposition parties unite on matters like this. I hope they consider how the public views the National Assembly."

Previously, the ruling and opposition parties spoke with one voice on similar issues. In 2015, they approved a bill to raise lawmakers' salaries but hastily withdrew it amid public criticism.

At that time, the National Assembly attempted to raise lawmakers' salaries by applying the same 3.8% increase rate as for public servants, raising the salary per lawmaker from 137.96 million KRW to 143.2 million KRW, an increase of 5.24 million KRW.

In the 20th National Assembly, it was also revealed in 2018 that the salary increase for lawmakers was included in the budget, leading to the return of the increased salary portion.

Experts have pointed out that if the system's original purpose is undermined, it cannot gain public trust. Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "If the policy research committee system is operated according to its original intent, the public would not criticize it. The problem is that no one believes that is the case."

The commentator added, "Because some policy research committee positions are operated as posts for party officials, there is criticism that it is effectively 'securing positions for one's own people.' Moreover, the public is pointing out covert attempts to increase aides or raise salaries quietly."

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