Ruling and Opposition Parties Unable to Set Opening Ceremony Date... 'Thorny Path' for July National Assembly

Closed for over a week... Unable to schedule government inquiries
Recommendation committee for the Corruption Investigation Office chief and Mayor Park's sexual harassment allegations... Extreme confrontations expected in every issue between ruling and opposition parties

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Wondara] The July extraordinary session of the National Assembly, which opened on the 6th, is at a standstill. From the opening ceremony to the launch of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HCIO), the ruling and opposition parties have clashed over every issue. Although the ruling and opposition parties resumed negotiations on the legislative schedule after the funeral of the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, they failed to reach a conclusion amid a tense power struggle.

Kim Young-jin of the Democratic Party and Kim Seong-won of the United Future Party, both deputy floor leaders, met again on the morning of the 14th following their meeting the previous day to discuss the legislative schedule.

The core issues are the schedule for the 21st National Assembly's opening ceremony and the election of the National Assembly Vice Speaker from the opposition party. The two deputy floor leaders held a meeting for about an hour the day before to coordinate these matters but failed to reach a conclusion. The ruling party wants to hold the opening ceremony starting with President Moon Jae-in's opening speech with all members present, while the opposition party is divided over whether to give up the opposition party's share of the National Assembly Vice Speaker position, leading to sharply divergent positions between the two sides.

Even during a brief meeting that day, the ruling and opposition parties only confirmed their differences. When asked about the possibility of holding the opening ceremony this week and agreeing on the plenary session schedule, Deputy Floor Leader Kim Seong-won avoided answering. Regarding the possibility of the Democratic Party unilaterally forming the Intelligence Committee, he responded, "We need to talk reasonably." Deputy Floor Leader Kim Young-jin said, "We decided to listen to each party's opinions once more and then review," but when asked if the differences were significant, he replied, "That might be the case."

Due to disagreements between the ruling and opposition parties, the 21st National Assembly has not held its opening ceremony even as its term approaches two months. The opposition insists that standing committees should operate independently, but delays in agreeing on major schedules such as the negotiation group leaders' speeches and government questioning have effectively brought standing committee activities to a halt.

The Democratic Party has stepped back from its initial goal of holding a plenary session on the 15th and is now determined to hold it on the 16th. Kim Tae-nyeon, the Democratic Party floor leader, said at the morning floor strategy meeting, "We will soon hold a plenary session to elect the chairperson of the Intelligence Committee and complete the confirmation hearing for the National Intelligence Service director candidate within the legal deadline," adding, "The United Future Party should stop negotiating over the opening ceremony and cooperate so it can be held immediately."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

However, even after the opening ceremony is held following an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, the confrontational political climate is expected to continue for some time. This is because there are numerous contentious issues such as the HCIO chief recommendation committee, strengthening real estate tax policies, confirmation hearings for the Minister of Unification and the National Intelligence Service director candidates, and allegations of sexual harassment against Mayor Park Won-soon. The United Future Party immediately launched a focused attack on the sexual harassment allegations starting from the day of the late Mayor Park's funeral. Calls for a special prosecutor and a parliamentary investigation also emerged within the United Future Party that day.

The issue of the HCIO chief recommendation committee is also difficult to resolve. With the enforcement of the HCIO Act just one day away, the opposition party is refusing to submit the list of recommendation committee members, emphasizing the illegality of the HCIO. The ruling party disclosed two recommendation committee members from its side the day before, but controversy grew when Jang Seong-geun, chairperson of the Suwon City Human Rights Commission, was identified as a defense attorney for the 'Baksa Room' perpetrators and resigned four hours after his appointment. United Future Party floor leader Joo Ho-young launched a fierce attack, saying, "They rushed and pressured excessively, and ended up choking by eating too quickly."

Once the National Assembly is fully convened, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to fiercely dispute issues such as raising the comprehensive real estate holding tax (종부세). Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader, said, "The Democratic Party and the government's will is firm," and warned, "If situations arise where multi-homeowners choose gifting to avoid capital gains tax, we are prepared to take additional measures such as raising acquisition tax on gifts." On the other hand, the United Future Party countered, calling it "a sneaky tax increase" rather than a measure to stabilize housing prices.

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