Opposition says 'National Assembly branch' is open for discussion... 'Only meeting rooms' vs 'All 17 standing committees'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the ruling party advocates for the 'relocation of the administrative capital,' the main opposition party, the United Future Party, opposed the move but left room for the possibility of establishing a 'National Assembly branch office.' Although there is a significant difference in opinions between the ruling and opposition parties, the opposition has left a clue for discussions on the branch office. However, the scope of the National Assembly branch office varies widely, from the minimal option of installing only meeting rooms to relocating the entire assembly except for the plenary session, leaving room for ongoing debate.

On the 24th, Joo Ho-young, the floor leader, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and stated, "With 13 central administrative ministries located in Sejong City, if the National Assembly remains only in Seoul, it takes a lot of time for work reports and audits to go back and forth." He added, "There are even talks about so-called 'road directors' or 'road managers,'" and said, "Isn't it necessary to have an institution in Sejong City for the National Assembly's standing committees to receive work reports and conduct administrative audits?"

The issue is that the branch office itself varies greatly depending on its extent. In September last year, the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements conducted a survey commissioned by the National Assembly Secretariat on five scenarios for the National Assembly branch office, ranging from an option that only provides meeting spaces without relocating standing committees to an option that relocates all 17 standing committees.

The five scenarios are broadly divided into Plan A, which does not require relocating standing committees, and Plan B, which involves relocating standing committees. The first Plan A (A1) proposes installing meeting rooms in the branch office without relocating committees or affiliated organizations, allowing committees with jurisdictional agencies in Sejong to hold meetings through business trips. Plan A2 involves relocating the Budget and Accounts Committee, the Budget Office, and part of the Secretariat to Sejong to transfer budget review functions there.

For Plan B, which involves relocating standing committees, Plan B1 proposes moving 10 standing committees related to administrative ministries located in Sejong (Education Committee, Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs and Oceans Committee, Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, Health and Welfare Committee, Environment and Labor Committee, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee) and three standing committees with many agencies in Sejong (Political Affairs Committee, Strategy and Finance Committee, Public Administration and Security Committee), along with the Budget Committee, Budget Office, and Research Service.

Plan B2 adds three more standing committees with agencies in Sejong?the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, and Steering Committee?to Plan B1, totaling 13 standing committees. Plan B3 relocates all 17 standing committees, including Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Intelligence Committee, National Defense Committee, and Women and Family Committee, as well as research-oriented institutions such as the Legislative Office, Research Service, Budget Office, Future Research Institute, and Library. This essentially moves all functions of the National Assembly except for the plenary session, making it highly likely that the opposition will oppose it. Regarding cost efficiency, while Plan B1 reduces travel and time costs, costs increase again starting from Plans B2 and B3.

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