Full Recovery of Allowances and Activity Expenses for Lawmakers Convicted of Imprisonment or Higher... People Power Party's Jo Ji-yeon Introduces Bill as Main Sponsor

Jo Ji-yeon, a member of the People Power Party representing Gyeongsan City, Gyeongbuk, on the 19th, took the lead in proposing the "Partial Amendment to the Act on Parliamentary Assistants and Allowances for Members of the National Assembly," which mandates the full recovery of allowances and activity expenses of National Assembly members who have been sentenced to imprisonment or higher.

Under the current law, allowances and activity expenses are provided to ensure the smooth performance of duties by National Assembly members. However, even if a member is sentenced to imprisonment or higher during their term, the allowances and activity expenses already paid remain unchanged, which has been criticized as an excessive privilege of the parliamentary position.

People Power Party Assemblywoman Jo Ji-yeon

In response, Representative Jo proposed an amendment that allows the recovery of allowances, legislative activity expenses, and special activity expenses paid from the time of indictment until the final judgment if a National Assembly member is sentenced to imprisonment or higher.

Representative Jo stated, "It is a reality that the National Assembly is distrusted by the public," adding, "I pledged to relinquish parliamentary privileges as my first campaign promise for the 22nd general election, and I will continue to do my best to improve the system for political reform."

Meanwhile, Representative Jo had previously announced "returning salaries upon confirmation of imprisonment or higher" as her first campaign pledge for the general election.

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