The Democratic Party Forces Labor Director System Passage... Opposition Party Reacts, "Is the Budget Committee Turning into an Election Stage?"

Submission of Temporary National Assembly Convening Request to the National Assembly

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is delivering a speech at the National Election Committee with Small Business Owners held at the Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 6th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The ruling party plans to hold a full meeting of the Planning and Finance Committee on the 8th to attempt the passage of key bills, including the introduction of labor directors in the public sector. The opposition party immediately opposed this, calling the rushed processing of the ‘Lee Jae-myung-style’ livelihood bills an act of turning the Planning and Finance Committee into a presidential election battleground.

The Democratic Party of Korea decided to submit a request to convene an extraordinary session of the National Assembly on the same day. Since the regular session ends on the 9th, they propose holding an extraordinary session from the 10th to the 30th. Prior to this, the Democratic Party plans to present and process bills they have been promoting at the party level, such as the introduction of labor directors in the public sector and the Basic Act on Social Economy, at the afternoon full meeting of the Planning and Finance Committee. If these bills pass the committee, the legislative process will be finalized at the plenary session of the extraordinary National Assembly.

The introduction of labor directors is a so-called Lee Jae-myung-style reform promised as a top priority when candidate Lee Jae-myung met with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU). The candidate said, "I will ensure the passage (of the bill) even if it requires using the fast-track procedure." A Democratic Party official said, "The labor director system bill has been under review for 4 to 5 years, and the Basic Act on Social Economy for nearly 10 years," adding, "Our goal is to pass them this year, and if the opposition objects, the committee chairperson can unilaterally present and approve the bills."

The People Power Party opposed the move, saying it is an attempt to turn the Planning and Finance Committee into a presidential election battleground. A People Power Party official said, "It is difficult to understand proceeding without agreement on the agenda," and claimed, "They are trying to add ideological colors to economic issues."

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