Ruling and Opposition Parties Agree to Establish 5 Special Committees Including Ethics Committee...Consensus Reached on Forming COVID-19 Response Team (Update)

Agreement Reached at Meeting Between Speaker Park Byeong-seok and Ruling and Opposition Floor Leaders
Regular National Assembly Session to Open on September 1... Special Committee Formed for Hearing on Supreme Court Nominee Lee Heung-gu

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Jeon Jinyoung] On the 20th, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to form five special committees, including the National Assembly Ethics Special Committee. A task force to respond to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) will also be established. They also agreed on the legislative schedule, including holding the regular session starting on the 1st of next month.

Kim Tae-nyeon of the Democratic Party and Joo Ho-young of the United Future Party, floor leaders, reached this agreement during a meeting presided over by National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok, according to Han Minsu, the National Assembly’s chief public relations officer.

The Ethics Special Committee, which disciplines lawmakers who commit inappropriate remarks or misconduct, will consist of 12 members. Each of the ruling and opposition negotiation groups will appoint five members, and one member from a non-negotiating group recommended by both sides will participate. The chairperson will be the longest-serving member of the National Assembly, and if there are two or more longest-serving members, the eldest will take the position. Among current lawmakers, Speaker Park, who has served six terms, is the longest-serving, and among those with five terms, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Jin-pyo is the eldest.

In addition to the Ethics Special Committee, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to form four more special committees. The economic special committee for overcoming COVID-19, proposed by Speaker Park, has been agreed upon by both sides, Han said. The nature, names, and composition of the remaining special committees will be further negotiated by the deputy floor leaders of both parties. Detailed discussions are expected to continue regarding the ruling party’s proposed National Balanced Development Special Committee and the United Future Party’s proposed Energy Special Committee.

A COVID-19 response team will also be formed. The response team will lead daily monitoring, National Assembly-level COVID-19 prevention measures, and follow-up actions.

Both parties also agreed to hold the opening ceremony of the regular National Assembly session on September 1, proceeding with negotiation group representatives’ speeches, government questioning, and the national audit in order. They agreed to prioritize passing major bills related to people’s livelihoods during the September plenary session. Han said, “Speaker Park proposed handling bills related to people’s livelihoods without contentious issues during September, and the floor leaders of both parties readily agreed. The specific bills to be handled will be discussed in further negotiations.”

The special committee for the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Lee Heung-gu will also be formed. It will consist of 13 members: eight from the ruling party, four from the United Future Party, and one from a non-negotiating group. The chairperson will be from the Democratic Party, and the United Future Party will chair the next confirmation hearing.

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