Starting Negotiations on Government Organization Act in a Chilly Atmosphere... Ruling Party: "Moon Government's Entrenchment" Opposition: "Ministry of Gender Equality Should Be Strengthened"

Government Organization Act, Presidential and Public Institution Heads' Term Alignment Policy Council Fully Operational
"Ruling and Opposition Parties Discuss Only Broad Directions, Not Specific Issues"

[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Park Joon-yi] The ruling and opposition parties' '3+3 policy consultative body' aimed at passing the Government Organization Act and establishing a law to align the terms of the president and heads of public institutions has finally started after many twists and turns, but it began on an unstable note as disagreements were confirmed on each issue.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 1st, the ruling and opposition policy chiefs, senior deputy floor leaders, and secretaries of the Administrative Safety Committee gathered at the National Assembly to hold the 3+3 policy consultative body meeting.

The atmosphere was cold from the very first greeting after the meeting began.

Sung Il-jong, Policy Chief of the People Power Party, opened by saying, "The president's term has started, and people who share the government's investment institutions and national philosophy should be able to take responsibility together for the five years entrusted by the people," adding, "It looks like a blocking appointment to the public and appears to be obstructing state affairs."

Kim Sung-hwan, Policy Chief of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "(Regarding the Government Organization Act negotiations) we will actively cooperate on the establishment of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the abolition of the Overseas Koreans Office, and the establishment of the Overseas Koreans Office as promised by the party," but added, "Regarding the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, as per the party's position, there are many functions that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family should perform, and rather it is a time to strengthen and expand its functions, so we will wisely gather opinions with the People Power Party on this matter."

Song Eon-seok, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the People Power Party, pointed out, "Even though the Moon Jae-in administration had little time left in its final term, it made so-called blocking appointments of heads, auditors, and executives of public institutions and other positions, and as a result, even though the regime changed, people who think differently from the new government's president or national philosophy are still active in various places, causing problems with the smooth operation of state affairs." Song also pressured the opposition regarding the Government Organization Act, saying, "It has been a practice between the ruling and opposition parties that when a new government takes office, the government organization should be arranged as the new government wishes so that it can work."

Wi Seong-gon, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party, said, "The current heads of public institutions being called blocking appointments is incorrect; they were appointed in accordance with the law under the current system," and criticized, "This problem arose due to deficiencies in the current system, so calling it blocking appointments is a wrong expression." Regarding the Government Organization Act, he said, "The government wants to do as it wishes, but there are challenges of the flow of the world and the mission of the times," adding, "In terms of the mission of the times, women still face a high glass ceiling and discrimination in wage gaps, and this issue needs to be thoroughly deliberated."

When reporters asked after the meeting whether any compromise points had been made, Policy Chief Sung said, "Discussions on concrete alternatives have not progressed," adding, "What was agreed upon today was to discuss various parts in the future within a broad framework."

Regarding the negotiation deadline, he said, "There was an opinion to reach an agreement by the end of the year."

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