Ruling and Opposition Parties Achieve First Cooperation Success... But 'Minsheng Recovery Support Fund' and Other Landmines Remain

Re-vote on Controversial Bill on 26th Next Month
Park Chandae "Ruling Party, Support the 250,000 Won Support Bill"

It took three months after the opening of the 22nd National Assembly for the ruling and opposition parties to agree and pass the bills. However, the Democratic Party of Korea shows no sign of backing down on contentious bills such as the Livelihood Recovery Support Fund, which is expected to become a political flashpoint in the future.

On the 28th, the amendment to the Special Act on Support for Jeonse Fraud Victims and Housing Stability is being passed in the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 28th, the National Assembly held a plenary session and passed 28 bills, including the Goo Ha-ra Act (Civil Code amendment), the Special Act on Jeonse Fraud, and the Nursing Act. These are the first bills passed through bipartisan agreement since the opening of the 22nd National Assembly in May. The first agreed bill is the Special Act on Jeonse Fraud. This bill was forcibly passed by the Democratic Party in the 21st National Assembly but was vetoed by President Yoon Suk-yeol and ultimately expired at the end of the term. However, in the 22nd National Assembly, both ruling and opposition parties agreed on the urgency of victim relief and on broad support measures, including raising the deposit limit from the existing 300 million KRW to 500 million KRW.

However, the re-voting on contentious bills that were passed in the 22nd National Assembly but vetoed by President Yoon has been postponed to the 26th of next month. This month, President Yoon exercised his veto power on the four broadcasting laws (Broadcasting Act, Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Agency Act, Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act, and the Act on the Establishment of the Korea Communications Commission), the Yellow Envelope Act (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act), and the 250,000 KRW Support Act (Special Measures Act on the 250,000 KRW Livelihood Recovery Support Fund for All Citizens). The Presidential Office reiterated its stance that it will exercise veto power on bills passed without bipartisan agreement.

The ruling and opposition parties show differences over contentious bills such as the 250,000 KRW Support Act, about a month ahead of the re-vote. Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at a floor leaders' meeting chaired by Speaker Woo Won-sik the day before, "The Democratic Party proposed the 250,000 KRW Support Act to revive the domestic economy, but it is very regrettable that it was blocked by the president's veto," adding, "I hope the People Power Party will not just oppose the Livelihood Recovery Support Fund unconditionally but will participate." On the other hand, Choo, the floor leader of the People Power Party, likened the 250,000 KRW Support Act to a "cash handout law" and maintained the position that support should focus on vulnerable groups.

The opposition party is expected not to back down on the 250,000 KRW Support Act promoted by Lee, the party leader. Lee, who was hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19, mentioned the Livelihood Recovery Support Fund in his first meeting after discharge. At the highest council meeting the day before, Lee said, "We will push the local currency amendment as a party bill," and urged, "People Power Party, please join us in the politics of 'Meoksa-nism'." Floor leader Park also pressured at the policy coordination meeting on the 29th, saying, "The domestic economy is in serious recession, but the People Power Party and the president opposed the 250,000 KRW Support Act. This is very regrettable," and added, "At the next re-vote, act like the ruling party and support it."

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