Ruling and Opposition Parties Both Secured Principles and Practical Benefits... Yet Judiciary Committee Remains at an Impasse

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] The ruling and opposition parties, having failed to elect standing committee chairs by the legal deadline of the 8th, have extended the negotiation period by agreeing to form the "Special Committee on the Revision of Rules Regarding the Number of Standing Committee Members (Number Adjustment Special Committee)." Attention is focused on whether an agreement on the organization of the National Assembly can be reached during the operation period of the special committee.

According to political circles on the 9th, although the ruling and opposition parties missed the legal deadline for organizing the National Assembly, by agreeing to form the Number Adjustment Special Committee, they are evaluated to have chosen cooperation over worsening relations. It is analyzed that the ruling party gained justification for pushing forward with votes in the future, while the opposition party secured practical benefits by being able to take a breather in negotiations.

About three days remain until the deadline for organizing the National Assembly. The day before, National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok set the deadline for submitting the list of standing committees to both parties as the 12th, establishing the negotiation deadline for organizing the National Assembly.

As part of the negotiations, the ruling and opposition parties will operate the Number Adjustment Special Committee starting today. The core issue of the special committee is also expected to be the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The United Future Party previously proposed to the Democratic Party to split the Legislation and Judiciary Committee into the Judiciary Committee and the Legislation Committee, with the Legislation Committee, which reviews the system and wording, chaired alternately by the ruling and opposition parties every one or two years. The Judiciary Committee would be treated as a general standing committee responsible for oversight of institutions such as courts, prosecution, and the Constitutional Court, while the Legislation Committee would be composed as a permanent special committee with about 50 members, similar to the Budget and Accounts Committee, responsible for reviewing the system and wording of bills.

The ruling party's willingness to accept this seems low. Kim Tae-nyeon, the Democratic Party floor leader, said at the floor strategy meeting that day, "The intention behind the proposal to split the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is suspicious. The election of the chair and reform of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee are separate matters," adding, "Even if the opposition drags out time, the outcome will not change. The Democratic Party will not tolerate irresponsible stalling."

The United Future Party has taken a "do or die" stance, refusing to submit the list of standing committees if no agreement is reached. Joo Ho-young, the United Future Party floor leader, appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" that morning and stated, "If the distribution of standing committee chairs between the ruling and opposition parties is not decided, we will not submit the allocation list of standing committee members." He said, "The Legislation and Judiciary Committee is a committee that prevents unilateral domination and guards the gate. Former Democratic Party lawmaker Park Young-sun said it should be given to the opposition party as per past practice," adding, "To now say that the position has changed and that the old practice is outdated is very wrong."

Amid the sharp confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties, the possibility of a last-minute agreement depending on each party's circumstances is also being raised. Within the United Future Party, there are skeptical voices about exhausting party resources on the organization negotiations. A member belonging to the United Future Party's freshman reform group "Chosimmanri" said, "Negotiations must continue until the end, but from the public's perspective, many people do not know what the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is or why there is a fight," adding, "We should fight in the National Assembly with the quality of laws and policies." For the ruling party, the burden of bearing full responsibility for the next government operation even after monopolizing the standing committees is analyzed as a factor increasing the possibility of reaching a negotiation agreement.

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