Passage of High School 1st Grade Party Membership, Labor Director System, and Follow-up Bills on Gwangju Collapse Accident in Plenary Session

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] At the first plenary session of the National Assembly held this year, the Political Parties Act, which allows individuals aged 16 and older to join and participate in political parties, and the Public Institutions Operation Act, which requires public institution boards to appoint one labor director, were passed.

On the 11th, the National Assembly held a plenary session in the afternoon and processed ▲Public Institutions Operation Act (introduction of labor director system) ▲Public Official Election Act (expansion of overseas voting stations, etc.) ▲Political Parties Act (lowering party membership age to 16) ▲Special Act on Strengthening and Protecting National Advanced Industry Competitiveness ▲National Balanced Development Act ▲Building Management Act (follow-up measures for Gwangju collapse accident) ▲Police Officer Duty Execution Act, among others.

The Special Measures Act on Strengthening and Protecting the Competitiveness of National Advanced Strategic Industries, known as the "Semiconductor Special Act," passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 11th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Among these, the Public Institutions Operation Act, which centers on the introduction of the 'public institution labor director system,' had been fiercely opposed by the business community, citing reasons such as exacerbation of power imbalance in labor-management relations and reduced speed of managerial decision-making. However, after passing the full meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee the previous day, it was finally submitted to the plenary session and passed on the same day.

Accordingly, from now on, the boards of public enterprises and quasi-governmental institutions must appoint one non-executive director recommended or agreed upon by worker representatives. The qualifications for labor directors require at least three years of continuous employment, with a term of two years, renewable annually. The enforcement date is six months after the promulgation. It is expected that 120 public institutions will introduce the labor director system starting in the second half of this year.

The public institution labor director system gained momentum after Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, urged its passage during the regular National Assembly session last December, and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate, also expressed support.

The amendment to the Political Parties Act, which lowers the age to join a political party from the current 18 to 16, also passed the National Assembly plenary session on the same day.

The amendment stipulates that any citizen aged 16 or older can become a founding member or party member of a political party. However, those under 18 must submit a consent form from their legal guardian to join a party.

The amendment to the Public Official Election Act, which allows additional overseas voting stations to be established in regions with more than 30,000 overseas nationals, was also approved. The amendment's main point is that one voting station can be added for every 30,000 overseas nationals, for example, two stations in regions with 60,000 overseas nationals and three stations in regions with 90,000 overseas nationals.

The Special Act on Strengthening and Protecting National Advanced Industry Competitiveness, known as the 'Semiconductor Special Act,' was also processed on the same day. This act establishes the National Advanced Strategic Industry Committee under the Prime Minister's Office to promote investment in advanced industry sectors.

The amendment to the Building Management Act, proposed following the Gwangju demolition building collapse disaster in May last year, was also passed. The amendment mandates that the construction permit authority must inspect demolition sites.

Additionally, the amendment to the National Balanced Development Special Act, which allows the national and local governments to promote 'super metropolitan area' development beyond city and provincial boundaries, and the amendment to the Police Officer Duty Execution Act, which reduces criminal liability for police officers during duty execution, were also processed.

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