Ruling Party Defends Legislation Committee... Considering Conceding Other Standing Committees

Discussion on Tough Measures Within the Party: "It Shows Strong Determination"
Kwon Seong-dong Urges Smooth Resolution of Parliamentary Organization, Saying "There Will Be No Unreasonable Demands"

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Chae-eun Koo] The People Power Party, which had its first contact with the opposition party for the second half organization of the 21st National Assembly, including the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, is reportedly considering a plan to give up all standing committee chair positions except for the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

The People Power Party has firmly opposed the Democratic Party of Korea's proposal to reduce the authority of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and expressed its determination to retain the Legislation and Judiciary Committee even if it has to give all other standing committees to the opposition. However, Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, urged a smooth resolution, saying that the opposition is unlikely to make unreasonable demands for all standing committees except the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

According to the People Power Party on the 9th, some within the party are reportedly discussing a tough response of not taking on any of the 17 standing committee chair positions except for the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair if the negotiations for the organization continue to face difficulties. This is being considered as one of the response scenarios to various possible demands from the opposition. A People Power Party official said, "This shows how strong the determination is to retain the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee." Previously, during the first half organization of the National Assembly, the ruling and opposition parties failed to reach an agreement on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair, leading the then ruling Democratic Party to monopolize all 18 committee chair positions.

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is wearing a mask after finishing his speech at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

At the Supreme Council meeting, Floor Leader Kwon pressured again, saying, "Monopolizing the Speaker and the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is a structural cause of legislative overreach," and urged that the Chairperson position be handled as agreed. He pointed out, "For the Democratic Party to give up the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is to stop arrogant politics and start innovation," adding, "The innovation slogans the Democratic Party is shouting now are like unicorns. They can only be imagined but never become reality."

However, the disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties over the Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee remains difficult to narrow. The People Power Party clearly opposes the Democratic Party's stance of conceding the Chairperson position on the condition of reducing the committee's authority. Floor Leader Kwon said on a radio show that day, "If the authority is reduced, holding the Chairperson position of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee means nothing."

The People Power Party also finds it difficult to agree to the election of the Speaker and other parliamentary leaders, which is a prerequisite for forming a special committee for personnel hearings. While the Democratic Party has consistently insisted on electing the Speaker first, the People Power Party is concerned that after personnel hearings, the opposition might convene a plenary session to forcibly appoint standing committee chairs. This is why Floor Leader Kwon said at the Supreme Council meeting that there is an "intention to monopolize the Speaker and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in a staggered manner."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park Hong-geun, Acting Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Policy Coordination Meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The Democratic Party holds a tough stance on the distribution of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. They say they could concede if the authority for systematic and detailed review is adjusted to reduce the power of the Chairperson, but they cannot give the current Chairperson position to the People Power Party. If the Chairperson opposes, the passage of bills could be delayed or blocked. Park Hong-geun, the floor leader, said at a press conference the day before, "Because the authority for systematic and detailed review is being abused and overstepped, we want to create measures to prevent this, and the People Power Party holding the Chairperson position is linked to the agreement from the first half floor leaders," adding, "But since this premise has not been corrected, we cannot hand over the Chairperson position."

However, as the second half organization negotiations drag on with the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair as a sticking point, voices calling for compromise are emerging within the Democratic Party. If the organization continues to be delayed, it could lead to disruptions not only in discussions on livelihood issues but also in personnel hearings. A Democratic Party official said, "Even if the Chairperson position is given to the ruling party, (for contentious bills) the plenary session can block them based on the number of seats. It's just a matter of whether the confrontation is tougher or less tough," adding, "There are also criticisms that Floor Leader Park is taking too hardline a stance."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park Jumin, the secretary of the National Assembly Judiciary Committee Subcommittee, is giving a proposal explanation on the "Complete Separation of Prosecution and Investigation" (separation of prosecution and investigation rights) at the National Assembly plenary session on the 27th. Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

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