Ruling and Opposition Parties Finalize Coordination on Assembly Formation... Provisional Agreement on Special Committee for Criminal Procedure Reform

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon, Park Joon-i, Kwon Hyun-ji] The People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea engaged in final negotiations on the 14th to organize the second half of the National Assembly. Although difficulties were encountered over the allocation of key standing committees, it was reported that common ground was found regarding the operation of the Special Committee on Judicial Reform.

On the same day at the National Assembly, a meeting chaired by Speaker Kim Jin-pyo was held between People Power Party floor leader Kwon Seong-dong and Democratic Party floor leader Park Hong-geun. They proceeded with negotiations on the organization of the Assembly, including a lunch meeting in the afternoon, but it is understood that further discussions are needed regarding the allocation of standing committees. However, it is understood that they have reached an agreement on the Special Committee on Judicial Reform.

After the lunch meeting, Floor Leader Kwon told reporters, "An agreement on the Special Committee on Judicial Reform has been reached. The Democratic Party keeps asking us to continue conceding the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, but internal discussions still need to be held."

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kwon Seong-dong, acting leader of the People Power Party, are entering the Speaker's office respectively on the 13th at the National Assembly to hold a meeting between the Speaker and floor leaders./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Earlier, the People Power Party proposed forming the Special Committee on Judicial Reform following the Constitutional Court's decision, suggesting that the chairperson be from the People Power Party and that the committee be composed of an equal number of members from both ruling and opposition parties, 5 to 5. However, since the floor leaders of both parties have agreed to negotiate the organization of the Assembly on an 'all-at-once settlement' basis, if the contentious issues regarding the allocation of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee and the Public Administration and Security Committee are not resolved, the agreement on the operation of the Special Committee on Judicial Reform could also fall through.

Floor Leader Kwon said, "Because it is an all-at-once settlement, nothing has been agreed upon yet. If everything is not settled, there will be no Special Committee on Judicial Reform or anything else."

Floor Leader Park also told reporters, "We set the principle of 'all-at-once settlement,' didn't we? We will keep that promise," adding, "We said yesterday that we would announce the all-at-once settlement of the allocation of the eight standing committee chairpersons for the second half and the formation of each special committee. I cannot disclose details that come up during the negotiation process, and only after final arrangements are made can I speak about it."

The floor leaders of both parties are expected to continue negotiations on the organization of the Assembly in the afternoon after internal party reviews.

Floor Leader Park said, "We promised to do our best efforts by Constitution Day, so naturally, whether today or tomorrow, we are ready to meet anytime," adding, "In the end, the People Power Party, as the ruling party, is left with the situation where it must make a decision with infinite responsibility. The Democratic Party is waiting for such a magnanimous concession from the People Power Party."

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