Chairman Park Byeong-seok, Key to Passing the Inspection Completion Law, Abruptly Postpones Overseas Trip... 'Critical Situation'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok has abruptly postponed his overseas trip schedule to the United States and Canada. Amid intense focus on the issue of the Speaker's presiding rights in the National Assembly regarding the passage of the 'Geomsu Wanbak' (complete removal of prosecutorial investigation rights) bill, Speaker Park's role as a mediator has gained significant attention. As the ruling and opposition parties engage in a battle of wits over the National Assembly Act and precedents concerning the passage of the Geomsu Wanbak bill, Speaker Park's decision to delay his overseas trip has made his intentions even more crucial.

On the 20th, the Speaker's office announced that Park had "postponed the planned visit to the U.S. and Canada" and "requested understanding from the countries to be visited through diplomatic channels."

In political circles, Speaker Park's overseas trip schedule was a matter of intense interest due to its connection to the Geomsu Wanbak bill's passage. If Speaker Park departs on the overseas trip, the presiding rights of the Speaker transfer to the Deputy Speaker. In this case, the Democratic Party planned for Deputy Speaker Kim Sang-hee, a member of their party, to exercise the presiding rights, making it easier to pass the bill. Since the People Power Party has announced a filibuster (unlimited debate) to block the Geomsu Wanbak bill, and the Democratic Party, with its 172 seats, cannot secure the 180 seats needed to end the filibuster, it is necessary to split the session through the Speaker's presiding rights. However, Speaker Park, who had previously refused to put the Press Arbitration Act on the agenda emphasizing bipartisan agreement, has postponed his trip, marking a significant turning point for the Democratic Party's plan to pass the Geomsu Wanbak bill before the inauguration of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. If Speaker Park, citing parliamentary principles, does not agree to the Democratic Party's plan to split the session, it will be difficult to pass the Geomsu Wanbak bill under the current government.

Moreover, confusion continues over the first hurdle, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's Agenda Coordination Committee, where the Geomsu Wanbak bill is being discussed. The People Power Party replaced Assemblyman Han Ki-ho, born in 1952, aiming for the chairmanship of the Agenda Coordination Committee, prompting the Democratic Party to replace Assemblyman Kim Jin-pyo, born in 1947, who is older. The political circles interpret this as considering the convention that the oldest member serves as the committee chair.

The possibility of passing the Agenda Coordination Committee within the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is also uncertain. Initially, the Democratic Party sent independent Assemblywoman Yang Hyang-ja, originally from the Democratic Party, to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, changing the 3:3 tie in the Agenda Coordination Committee to a favorable 4:2. According to a document of unclear authorship, Assemblywoman Yang is cautious about passing the Geomsu Wanbak bill. If Assemblywoman Yang opposes passing the bill before President-elect Yoon's inauguration, it may be difficult to clear the Agenda Coordination Committee. In that case, the Democratic Party would need to replace Assemblywoman Yang with another member, which would also require Speaker Park's assistance.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.