Tension Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Since Before Bonhee... Clashes Over Grain Management Act and Nursing Act

On the 13th, as the National Assembly plenary session convenes, the ruling and opposition parties are sharply divided over the Grain Management Act amendment, the Nursing Act enactment bill, and the Medical Service Act amendment bill. The Democratic Party of Korea insists that the Grain Management Act, on which President Yoon Seok-yeol exercised his right to request reconsideration (veto), must be re-submitted and passed on this day, but the People Power Party is opposed. The Nursing Act and Medical Service Act, which were directly referred to the plenary session under the leadership of the Democratic Party, are also the subject of intense confrontation between the parties over whether to process them.

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in the morning, “Both the Grain Management Act, on which President Yoon exercised his right to request reconsideration after much deliberation, and the Nursing Act, which the Democratic Party claims it will push through with majority power, have a huge impact on the lives of the people.” He added, “Even if the bills are necessary, it is right to take time to review and consult whether there are any unforeseen side effects, elements that could trigger social conflict, or any impact on national competitiveness and the lives of the people before processing them.”

Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 13th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

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Yoon also emphasized, “How much damage have the people suffered due to the forced passage of many laws such as the three lease laws, which the Democratic Party processed unilaterally?” He urged, “We ask you to deeply reconsider the current political and parliamentary situation shown to the people and to stop the unilateral operation of the National Assembly led by the majority.”

Yoon Jae-ok held consultations with Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, and Kim Jin-pyo, Speaker of the National Assembly, on the issue of whether to submit the Grain Management Act to the plenary session, but no final conclusion was reached.

The Democratic Party strongly insisted that the Grain Management Act should be submitted and re-voted on this day. Park Hong-geun said at the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly, “The re-vote on the Grain Management Act is the responsibility of the National Assembly and the Speaker.” He added, “We demand the People Power Party. Since the President exercised the right to request reconsideration and a re-vote must be conducted as requested by the People Power Party, and since the party has officially decided on a rejection stance as the party line, if they are confident, there is no reason not to participate in today’s vote.”

The Democratic Party also raised its voice that the Nursing Act and Medical Service Act cannot be delayed. Park said, “The Democratic Party’s position was to process them at the plenary session on the 30th of last month, but Speaker Kim suggested giving time until the next plenary session for persuasion, so we patiently waited. But what efforts have the government and ruling party made in the past two weeks?” He explained, “Since the bills were prepared properly in terms of both procedure and content, they must be processed today according to the National Assembly Act.” Kim Seong-joo, senior deputy chairman of the Democratic Party’s Policy Committee, also said, “The processing of the Nursing Act today is the top priority that must be resolved in the National Assembly,” adding, “If the People Power Party abandons its current attitude, peaceful cooperation in medical sites will be realized.”

The Grain Management Act amendment mainly stipulates that the government must compulsorily purchase excess production when the surplus production exceeds 3-5% compared to demand or when rice prices fall 5-8% compared to the average year. It is also the ‘No. 1 livelihood bill’ of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung. The People Power Party opposes it citing reasons such as deterioration of agricultural competitiveness and fiscal deterioration due to rice purchases, and President Yoon also exercised his right to request reconsideration on the 4th, calling it a ‘populist bill.’

The Nursing Act enactment bill contains provisions to separate nursing work regulations into a separate law. It includes nurse licensing, qualifications, and improvement of treatment. The People Power Party has proposed a compromise plan, including changing the name to the ‘Act on Nurse Treatment, etc.’ Regarding the Medical Service Act amendment, the People Power Party proposed narrowing crimes that lead to revocation of medical licenses from ‘all crimes’ to ‘medical-related crimes, violent crimes, and sex crimes.’

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 13th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

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In the case of the Grain Management Act, even if it is submitted to the plenary session as requested by the Democratic Party, it is expected to be difficult to pass. For a bill on which the President exercised the right to request reconsideration to be passed again, a majority of the total members must be present and at least two-thirds of the members present must approve it. If the People Power Party (115 seats) collectively votes against it, the possibility of the opposition passing it alone is low.

The ruling and opposition parties plan to decide the final agenda to be submitted through consultations before the plenary session. Lee Su-jin, spokesperson for the Democratic Party’s floor leader, said to reporters after the policy coordination meeting, “There is a request from Speaker Kim for the two floor leaders to reach an agreement by today, so there might be a meeting, but no time or details have been set yet.” She added, “The Democratic Party’s policy is to strongly demand that Speaker Kim meet before the plenary session and proceed with the votes on the Nursing Act, Medical Service Act, and Grain Management Act today.”

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