'Yeoyajeong National Policy Consultation Body' Holds First Meeting on 26th... Leadership Competition and Tensions Expected to Continue (Comprehensive)

Agreement on forming a consultative body chaired by Speaker Woo
Agenda to be actively discussed through working-level talks
Plenary session schedule and special prosecutor law may spark conflict

On the 23rd, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to form a 'Ruling-Opposition-Government National Consultation Body' to manage the national turmoil at a meeting of floor leaders chaired by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik. The People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea agreed that party leaders would participate in the first meeting scheduled for the 26th, and thereafter, practical discussions would be led by the floor leaders. Although a compromise was reached regarding the formation of the consultation body, there are forecasts that its operation may not proceed smoothly if disagreements over agenda items continue.

Speaker Woo Won-shik is taking a commemorative photo with the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News

Park Hyung-soo, the senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after the meeting of floor leaders from both parties that "party leaders from both parties will participate in the first meeting, and thereafter, the floor leaders will continue the discussions." Park Sung-joon, the senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party, said, "The first meeting will include party leaders from both parties, Speaker Woo, and Han Duck-soo, the Acting President and Prime Minister."

Although the ruling and opposition parties agreed on the formation of the consultation body, clashes over the agenda are expected again. A power struggle between the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party is anticipated, as there are many contentious issues with clear differences in positions. The People Power Party is expected to demand early execution of next year's main budget and appointments of the Ministers of National Defense and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, while the Democratic Party is expected to request the supplementary budget formulation, special investigations on the insurrection and on First Lady Kim Keon-hee, and the appointment of the National Assembly's constitutional court justice. The People Power Party opposes the early supplementary budget and the insurrection special investigation, and the Democratic Party is reportedly negative about appointing new ministers under the acting president system. Specific details will be decided through working-level consultations by the 24th.

Although the ruling and opposition parties agreed at the meeting to hold plenary sessions on the 26th and 31st, the Democratic Party insists on holding additional plenary sessions on the 27th and 30th of this month and on January 2nd and 3rd next year for government questioning, signaling future conflicts between the parties. Moreover, the Democratic Party has warned that if Acting President Han does not promulgate the insurrection and Kim's special investigation laws by the 24th, they will impeach him, raising concerns that the consultation body could collapse immediately after its launch.

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