People Power Party Announces Standing Committee Whip... "Democratic Party Must Work Toward Normalizing the National Assembly"

The Executive Committee Is Centered on Reelected Lawmakers
Highlighting That the Responsibility for the Parliamentary Vacuum Lies with the Democratic Party

Song Eon-seok, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the People Power Party (left), and Jin Seong-jun, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, are shaking hands on the morning of the 8th at the Chairman's Office of the National Assembly Steering Committee in Yeouido, Seoul, to begin negotiations for the second half of the National Assembly's organization. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporters Bomryeong Geum, Hyunji Kwon] As the formation of the second half of the 21st National Assembly has not been completed and the deadlock has prolonged, the People Power Party announced the appointment of the standing committee secretaries on the 8th as a priority. The secretaries were mostly assigned among second-term lawmakers.

Song Eon-seok, the senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, announced the list of People Power Party secretaries for the second half of the National Assembly standing committees at the National Assembly in the afternoon.

Jeong Jeom-sik was named for the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Yoon Han-hong for the Political Affairs Committee, Ryu Seong-geol for the Planning and Finance Committee, Park Seong-jung for the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, Kim Seok-gi for the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Shin Won-sik for the National Defense Committee, and Lee Man-hee for the Administration and Security Committee.

Additionally, Lee Yong-ho was appointed secretary of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, Lee Yang-su for the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, Lee Cheol-gyu for the Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, Kang Ki-yoon for the Health and Welfare Committee, Im I-ja for the Environment and Labor Committee, Kim Jeong-jae for the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, and Kim Seong-won for the Special Budget and Accounts Committee. Song, the senior deputy floor leader, will serve as secretary of the National Assembly Steering Committee.

Except for Shin Won-sik, the secretaries are all second-term lawmakers. Song explained, "In the situation where the opposition party has become the ruling party, we assigned mainly second-term lawmakers to support the government's execution power and to enable bipartisan cooperation."

Secretaries for the Education Committee, Gender Equality Committee, and Intelligence Committee will be announced later. Song said, "Although there are preferences for chairpersons and secretaries among lawmakers, it is necessary to consider regional distribution and other comprehensive factors," adding, "Since the assignment of standing committees is still uncertain, some will be announced after confirmation."

While announcing the secretaries, the People Power Party emphasized that the Democratic Party bears responsibility for the National Assembly's vacancy. Yang Geum-hee, the party's floor spokesperson, stated in a commentary, "The People Power Party can no longer neglect its responsibilities as the National Assembly and ruling party," emphasizing, "It is urgent to fulfill the role of a policy party prioritizing the economy and people's livelihood."

Yang continued, "Until the formation of the National Assembly is completed, the People Power Party will closely respond to current issues and prepare policies without disruption, centered on the standing committee secretaries announced today," adding, "The responsibility and authority of the National Assembly must not be trampled on, nor should the Assembly be reduced to a private property of political parties, including the Speaker and the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. We urge the Democratic Party to promptly normalize the National Assembly."

Meanwhile, Song, the senior deputy floor leader, and Jin Seong-jun, the senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party, discussed measures related to the second half formation of the National Assembly for an hour at the National Assembly in the morning but only confirmed their differences in position.

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