New National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo: "We Will Achieve Constitutional Amendment Within the 21st National Assembly Term"

Institutionalization of Issue Coordination Meetings, Strengthening Budget Review and Approval Authority
Promise to Verify Public Office Candidates by Forming the Incheon Special Committee

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Junyi Park] Kim Jin-pyo, a five-term member of the Democratic Party of Korea elected as the Speaker of the National Assembly for the second half of the 21st National Assembly, declared, "I will devote myself to achieving constitutional amendment within the term of the 21st National Assembly."

After being elected as Speaker on the 4th, Rep. Kim expressed his thoughts, stating, "We can no longer delay the restructuring of the power system to overcome the evils of the imperial presidential system. The outdated constitutional framework, which is 35 years old, must be completely overhauled to fit the times."

He pledged to make the second half of the 21st National Assembly a "National Assembly that creates new hope." He promised to institutionalize the 'Issue Coordination Meeting' modeled after the German parliament to create a "National Assembly where dialogue and compromise bloom." He said, "I will open a new path where the Speaker, floor leaders of negotiation groups, standing committee chairs and secretaries, and government officials regularly come together and engage in dialogue."

He also vowed to create a "National Assembly faithful to the principle of separation of powers," promising, "If it is to uphold the grand democratic principle of separation of powers, I will be a Speaker who fulfills my role without hesitation."

Rep. Kim announced plans to create a "National Assembly that fulfills the role of constitutional institutions," significantly strengthening the National Assembly's constitutional rights to review and decide on the budget. He also said he would activate the National Assembly legislative petition system to realize national interests.

He stated, "Since the second half of the National Assembly started a month late, there is no time to hesitate," and announced plans to form a "Special Committee on the National Assembly's Livelihood Economy" to respond to the pressing livelihood and economic crisis. Additionally, he said he would form a "Special Committee on Personnel Hearings" to begin verifying public office candidates.

Rep. Kim emphasized, "We must quickly complete the organization of the National Assembly," adding, "Opening the National Assembly is not a right but a duty. It is the people's command." He continued, "Let's amend the National Assembly Act so that there is no gap in the National Assembly under any circumstances," and stressed, "Let's set a firm deadline for electing the Speaker in the second half, just like in the first half."

That afternoon, in the plenary session of the National Assembly, 275 members from both ruling and opposition parties gathered for a vote, and Rep. Kim was elected Speaker with a total of 255 votes. He will serve as Speaker until May 2024, when the 21st National Assembly ends.

▼Full text of the acceptance speech below.

Honorable members of the National Assembly!

South Korea now stands at the threshold of becoming an economic powerhouse leading innovation,

and a cultural powerhouse.

From the perspective of a long history,

this moment is a critical turning point.

Will we boldly advance beyond the threshold?

Or will we miss this golden opportunity and falter?

History will watch and record our actions at this very moment.

As Speaker of the National Assembly, I will work together with you,

to fulfill the historic mission entrusted to our National Assembly.

To this end, I will make the second half of the 21st National Assembly

a .

First, I will create a .

A hall of popular sovereignty where communication flourishes,

rational debate and sincere compromise become the norm.

To achieve this, I will institutionalize the

'Issue Coordination Meeting' modeled after the German parliament.

The Speaker, floor leaders of negotiation groups,

standing committee chairs and secretaries, and government officials

will regularly come together and engage in dialogue,

opening a new path.

Second, I will create a .

The National Assembly is the birthplace of legislation for the people's livelihood.

As Speaker,

I will firmly uphold the duty of political neutrality.

However, if it is to uphold the grand democratic principle

of separation of powers,

I will be a Speaker who fulfills my role without hesitation.

While following the principle of majority rule,

we must create a National Assembly that respects and considers minorities.

Songmubaekyeol (松茂柏悅).

As the saying goes, "The pine tree flourishes, and the cedar rejoices,"

the ruling and opposition parties must become good friends.

A healthy forest where diversity coexists,

a National Assembly of coexistence.

Third, I will create a .

First, I will significantly strengthen

the National Assembly's constitutional rights to review and decide on the budget.

I will improve the budget review process

so that the Budget and Accounts Committee and standing committees

receive preliminary reports at each stage of government budget formulation.

We will ensure that taxpayers' money

is properly used where it is needed.

I will actively support legislative diplomacy activities to realize national interests,

and activate the National Assembly legislative petition system

to reflect the will of the people.

Respected and beloved citizens,

and fellow members of the National Assembly,

it is time for our politics

to break away from the bad habit of winner-takes-all and loser-perishes.

The spirit of the May 18 Democratic Movement must be included in the preamble of the Constitution,

and the restructuring of the power system to overcome the evils of the imperial presidential system

can no longer be delayed.

The 35-year-old outdated constitutional framework

must be completely overhauled to fit the times.

There have been many discussions on constitutional amendment so far.

There is broad social consensus.

Based on this social agreement,

I will devote myself to achieving constitutional amendment within the term of the 21st National Assembly.

Polarization, low birthrate, climate change and energy transition, balanced development.

I will be a Speaker who leads the resolution of national tasks to advance as a leading country.

I will faithfully prepare so that the National Assembly

can be a great vessel that unites the wisdom of the people.

I will be a Speaker who contributes to peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The new Cold War era is beginning.

The authorities of the South and North

must not fall into the trap of confrontation, and the National Assembly must play a balancing role.

Amid the whirlpool of international factional confrontations,

I will be a Speaker who does not give up the courage of practical realism.

Honorable members of the National Assembly!

Let us practice politics that creates hope through cooperation, not despair through conflict.

Let us make the National Assembly a hall of dialogue and compromise,

coordination and mediation.

Our politics has matured little by little every time compromise was achieved.

When I worked in the government,

I was called 'Mr. Tuner,' that is, 'the coordinator.'

When I served as the floor leader of the minority party with 81 seats,

I also achieved a compromise on the National Assembly Advancement Act,

breaking the long-standing vicious cycle of the so-called 'animal National Assembly.'

I ask all of you

to become members of the National Assembly skilled in dialogue and compromise.

I will be a Speaker skilled in coordination and mediation.

All of us members of the National Assembly

are a community of shared destiny evaluated by the people and history.

Let us work together so that the 21st National Assembly

will be recorded in history as a National Assembly that achieved a great political transformation,

a National Assembly that created new hope.

Thank you.

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