[Yeouido TMI] 'War of the Eul' Amidst the Two Giant Parties... Competition Over Non-Negotiating Group Seats

Pension Special Committee Non-negotiating Groups Compete for 1 Seat Allocation Between Justice Party and Sidae Jeonhwan
Justice Party's Kang Eun-mi for Pension Special Committee, Sim Sang-jung Nominated for Political Reform Special Committee
"A Table for Discussion Among Non-negotiating Groups Should Be Established" Opinion Also Expressed

Emergency Response Committee Chair Lee Eun-joo of the Justice Party is speaking at the members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 26th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Geum Bo-ryeong] Non-negotiating groups and independent lawmakers, who were treated as 'lesser' in the National Assembly's operation centered on negotiating groups, are now competing among themselves for participation in standing committees and special committees. As the two major parties' dominance in the National Assembly solidifies, the relatively marginalized non-negotiating groups are forced into competition over their limited shares.

According to the National Assembly on the 26th, the Justice Party, holding 6 seats, and the Transition Korea Party, holding 1 seat, are competing for the one non-negotiating group seat on the National Assembly Pension Reform Special Committee. A demand survey was conducted in the Assembly, and both parties expressed their intention to participate in the Pension Reform Special Committee. Since the committee has been launched and substantive discussions are beginning, non-negotiating groups are eager to participate because they can voice their opinions on the direction of pension reform and gain public attention.

The Justice Party held a party meeting that day and internally decided to appoint Representative Kang Eun-mi as the non-negotiating group member of the Pension Special Committee and Representative Sim Sang-jung as a member of the Political Reform Special Committee. If National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo assigns the non-negotiating group seat to the Justice Party, Representative Kang will participate in the special committee. The Justice Party had previously announced an independent pension reform plan during the last presidential election, focusing on gradual premium increases.

Representative Cho Jeong-hoon of Transition Korea also shows strong willingness to participate. In a phone interview, Representative Cho said, "While doing politics, I wanted to practice ideology-free, pragmatic politics, and pension reform is the pinnacle of that," adding, "I have worked at the World Bank and engaged in pension-related consultations with Eastern Europe, developing countries, and the OECD," showing his enthusiasm.

Regrettably, the Justice Party and Transition Korea, who are competing for the single pension special committee seat, had previously agreed to unite their voices on pension reform and related issues. In November 2020, Representative Cho visited then-Justice Party leader Kim Jong-chul, and they discussed "working together on pension reform and tax reform."

Assemblyman Jo Jeonghun of the Shift to the Future Party. / Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

The Speaker's office stated regarding the allocation of non-negotiating group seats on special committees, "After the allocation of negotiating group seats is finalized, we will decide after assessing the overall situation." Currently, the expectation is that the Justice Party will occupy both the pension and political reform special committees.

Within the National Assembly, concerns are raised that the competition among non-negotiating groups, who are considered 'lesser,' stems from the fundamental problem of the Assembly's operation being centered on negotiating groups. While negotiating groups receive committee seats based on their number of seats, non-negotiating groups and independent lawmakers must follow the Speaker's decisions. A political insider lamented, "Since the National Assembly operates mainly around negotiating groups, non-negotiating group lawmakers inevitably suffer various disadvantages." An opposition lawmaker suggested, "One way could be to establish an official table where non-negotiating groups can discuss matters among themselves."

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