Mountain After Mountain... Negotiations on 'Gwabangwi' Committee Formation Face Another Setback

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Kwon Hyun-ji] The ruling and opposition parties, which reached a tentative agreement yesterday on the operation of the Special Committee on Judicial Reform?a key issue in the negotiation over the National Assembly's organization?are still facing difficulties over the allocation of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee and the Public Administration and Security Committee. Both parties maintain their previous commitment to conclude the organization negotiations by the Constitution Day on the 17th, but since both sides are insisting on retaining control of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee to prevent the other from "seizing control of broadcasting," ups and downs are expected until a final agreement is reached.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 15th, the People Power Party reiterated its determination to retain the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee for the second consecutive day, criticizing the biased reporting of public broadcasters. Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, raised two booklets during the party's floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in the morning and pointed out, "Controversies over unfair and biased reporting by public broadcasters under the Moon Jae-in administration never ceased. There are many cases where issues were handled in a biased manner favoring the Democratic Party or where key points were selectively covered." He said, "These booklets compile MBC's unfair reports," adding, "(This alone) is a significant collection." Regarding KBS, he criticized, "During the April 2021 by-elections, KBS aired 19 reports targeting candidate Oh Se-hoon's land controversy in Naegok-dong, actively spreading false reports about ecological soup, while focusing on policy pledges for candidate Park Young-sun."

He continued, "Public broadcasters have long lost public trust due to the loss of neutrality and fairness," and raised his voice, saying, "It is shameless for the Democratic Party to talk about broadcasting control just because the regime has changed." Later, in a meeting with reporters, Floor Leader Kwon said, "The chairpersons of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee and the Public Administration and Security Committee have traditionally been held by the ruling party. Since there are not enough seats to hold both, one was given to the Democratic Party to choose." Regarding the possibility of a meeting that day, he said, "If the Democratic Party requests, I will meet," but added the caveat, "The Democratic Party must take responsibility first for me to meet."

The People Power Party also emphasized that the Democratic Party had already circulated 'information posts (jirasi)' before declaring a suspension of the organization negotiations, citing the Democratic Party's breaking of the principle of 'announcing after a comprehensive agreement.'

Song Eon-seok, the senior deputy floor leader, said at the meeting, "The Democratic Party insisted on taking the Public Administration and Security Committee and the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee for themselves, and when things did not go their way, they shifted the blame for the breakdown onto us." The day before, Floor Leader Kwon said on YTN, "We have tentatively agreed to rename the Special Committee on Judicial Reform to the Special Committee on Investigation and Judicial System Reform, compose it with a 6:6 ratio, have the Democratic Party chair it, and handle agenda items by consensus," explaining that the information had already been circulating before the interview.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, the Democratic Party denied the claims as 'false.' Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, told reporters after the emergency committee meeting in the morning, "They received a single jirasi and assumed it came from the Democratic Party, but even if the jirasi is true, it is an unverified and unofficial document, and those responsible for official negotiations agreed to keep silent until a comprehensive agreement is reached, which should be respected." While leaving open the possibility of a meeting with Floor Leader Kwon, Park emphasized that "a change in attitude from the People Power Party is necessary" for smooth negotiations, reminding once again that the ruling party would be responsible if negotiations were delayed.

At the morning emergency committee meeting, Park said, "Most issues were narrowed down during yesterday's meeting, but the obsession of the People Power Party with the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee prevented a final agreement," emphasizing, "The Democratic Party's efforts to normalize the National Assembly are simply disheartening."

Park added, "Due to the earnest request of the Speaker of the National Assembly last night and this morning, we will not close the negotiation table, but the key is whether the People Power Party adopts a changed attitude," and said, "The Democratic Party has shown a willingness to make significant concessions, including on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Steering Committee as promised, so the People Power Party should refrain from excessive demands and make a magnanimous decision."

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