Unprecedented Appointments Including Former Minister as Standing Committee Chair... A Strategic Move for Negotiations?

Appointment of Do Jong-hwan, Lee Gae-ho, and Jin Sun-mi
Reappointed as Standing Committee Chairs
Three-term Members Replaced by Two-term Standing Committee Chairs

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] On the 29th, during the process in which the Democratic Party of Korea monopolized all standing committees by electing 11 additional standing committee chairs, unusual events occurred. The 'custom' that the National Assembly had observed when electing standing committee chairs was broken, such as when a lawmaker who had previously served as a standing committee chair was appointed again or when a second-term lawmaker was appointed as a standing committee chair. There is also an interpretation that the Democratic Party may have left open a slight possibility of negotiation to hand over some standing committee chair positions to the opposition party in the future.

Speaker of the National Assembly Park Byeong-seok is opening the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Until now, there was a custom in the National Assembly that if a lawmaker served as a standing committee chair once, the next term would be yielded to junior lawmakers. It was also a prevailing atmosphere that standing committee chairs were held by senior lawmakers with three or more terms. However, as the ruling party elected even the seven standing committee chairs allocated to the opposition party, an unusual appointment was made.

First, the appointment of lawmakers who were former ministers. Lawmakers Do Jong-hwan, Lee Gae-ho, and Jin Sun-mi each served as ministers of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, respectively, during the Moon Jae-in administration. Lawmakers Do and Lee were appointed as chairpersons of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee and the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs and Oceans Committee, respectively, thus overseeing the committees related to the ministries they had led. This has raised concerns that the purpose of the separation of powers could be undermined, as ministers who were subject to parliamentary oversight are now chairing the committees again. Lawmaker Jin was elected as the chairperson of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee.

Jeong Seong-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea elected as the chairman of the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Committee, is delivering a greeting at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

It is also noteworthy that Lawmaker Jeong Seong-ho, who served as the chairperson of the Strategy and Finance Committee in the 20th National Assembly, was appointed as a standing committee chair again. Some view this as a consideration because Lawmaker Jeong served only one year on the Strategy and Finance Committee, so he was given the Budget and Accounts Committee chair. Two second-term lawmakers, Jeong Chun-sook and Song Ok-joo, were also appointed as standing committee chairs. Usually, second-term lawmakers served as committee secretaries.

This unusual appointment is analyzed as a strategic move that effectively leaves open the possibility of negotiations with the United Future Party. Since the Democratic Party ended up taking all 18 standing committee chair positions, it inevitably faces evaluations as a 'poisoned chalice.' Former ministers and standing committee chair lawmakers have little need to cling to their positions, so if negotiations with the United Future Party resume, they are likely to offer their seats as bargaining chips at any time.

On the same day, Lawmaker Jeong hinted at the possibility of stepping down depending on negotiations with the opposition party by saying in his acceptance speech as Budget and Accounts Committee chair, "I hope my role will end quickly with the prompt participation of the opposition party," and "This is a position to review and approve the government's budget proposal. I earnestly appeal for the opposition party's swift attendance and cooperation."

A senior Democratic Party lawmaker said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 30th, "The seven positions originally allocated to the opposition party are ready to be handed over if the United Future Party asks for them," and added, "We fully recognize that the situation can change if negotiations are concluded."

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