"Let's Produce Results" is Choi Sang-mok... Focus on Persuading the Opposition at the National Policy Council

First Four-Party National Policy Council Meeting This Afternoon
Ruling and Opposition Parties to Discuss Contentious Issues Including the Semiconductor Special Act
Choi Emphasizes "Meaningful Results Must Be Achieved"

Prime Minister and Acting President Choi Sang-mok, concurrently Minister of Economy and Finance, is entering the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News

Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, will meet with leaders of both ruling and opposition parties on the 20th to discuss sensitive issues such as the supplementary budget (supplementary budget) formulation and the Semiconductor Special Act. Since the policy is to achieve meaningful results through the National Policy Council, it is expected that he will focus on persuading the opposition party as much as possible while maintaining the government's existing stance.

It is known that Acting Prime Minister Choi held an internal meeting in the morning and continued discussions on countermeasures related to the National Policy Council held in the afternoon. A government official from Acting Prime Minister Choi's side said, "We discussed various matters including the National Policy Council in the morning," adding, "Recently, there have been almost no cases where the ruling and opposition parties have agreed on specific agendas and reached conclusions, but the government believes that this time the National Assembly should narrow differences and proactively reach visible conclusions."

Acting Prime Minister Choi also said at the Cabinet meeting on the 18th that since the National Policy Council was difficult to arrange, it must produce results. At the time, Acting Prime Minister Choi said, "We must produce meaningful results regarding the handling of livelihood and economic bills and additional fiscal input," and "The government will sincerely engage in dialogue and cooperation with the ruling and opposition political circles." This is interpreted as a determination to achieve substantial policy outcomes as soon as possible amid ongoing political instability under the 'acting of the acting' system.

In particular, Acting Prime Minister Choi is known to actively persuade the opposition party regarding the inclusion of an exemption clause for the 52-hour workweek in the Semiconductor Special Act. The People Power Party insists that the Semiconductor Special Act must be passed by including the 52-hour workweek exemption to strengthen industrial competitiveness, but the Democratic Party opposes this, arguing that it should be addressed through amendments to the Labor Standards Act. Regarding this, a government official pointed out, "Saying that the 52-hour exemption will be supplemented by the Labor Standards Act is practically saying it will not be done."

Regarding the supplementary budget and other matters, the government also holds the position that it will be difficult to accept if the Democratic Party pushes populist items such as livelihood recovery consumption coupons. Since the ruling party, opposition party, and government still maintain opposing positions on existing issues, it is expected that it will not be easy to reach meaningful conclusions at the first meeting on this day. Another government official said, "Holding the National Policy Council is very meaningful," but added, "Difficulties are expected."

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