One Day Before the Plenary Session, Ruling and Opposition Parties Fail to Reach Agreement... "Discussions Continue"

One day before the plenary session, on the 26th, the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties met to discuss the agenda items but ended without reaching an agreement.

Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after the meeting of floor leaders presided over by Speaker Kim Jin-pyo at the Speaker's office in the National Assembly that morning, “We discussed the agenda for tomorrow’s plenary session with Speaker Kim and Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party,” adding, “We have not yet reached a complete conclusion and will continue discussions.”

Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, are shaking hands on the 26th in the Speaker's office at the National Assembly. In the center is Kim Jin-pyo, the Speaker of the National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

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The most contentious issues include the Nursing Act bill and the so-called ‘double special prosecutors’ (special prosecutors for the 5 billion Club and Kim Keon-hee’s stock manipulation allegations) fast-track designation. The Nursing Act bill was directly referred to the plenary session under the leadership of the Democratic Party, which has expressed its intention to pass it at the plenary session on the 27th. On the other hand, the People Power Party has stated that if the Nursing Act is forcibly passed, it could destabilize the entire medical system and plans to recommend that the president exercise the right to request reconsideration.

Floor leader Yoon requested the opposition party to consider the fact that President Yoon Seok-yeol is currently on a state visit to the United States. Yoon said, “I hope tomorrow’s plenary session will, as much as possible, support our parliament’s normal diplomacy and proceed with the mindset that there is no ruling or opposition party when it comes to national interests, so that conflicts and worries among the public do not arise and the session concludes smoothly.”

The floor leaders of both parties are expected to continue discussions until the plenary session on the 27th. When asked, “When will you discuss again?” Floor leader Yoon replied, “Continuously until the plenary session.”

At the plenary session on the 27th, it is highly likely that the amendment to the Local Tax Basic Act, which prioritizes the repayment of jeonse deposits over taxes when a jeonse house is auctioned or sold through public sale, will be passed. Both parties have reached a consensus on the need for legislation related to measures against jeonse fraud.

However, the ‘Special Act on Jeonse Fraud’ promoted by the government and ruling party is expected to be passed in the May session of the National Assembly. Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong has announced that he will propose a special law that comprehensively supports victims of jeonse fraud on the 27th.

In response, Speaker Kim said at the meeting, “It seems that there is a consensus that special legislation, which is temporarily applied to resolve the jeonse fraud issue between the ruling and opposition parties, is inevitably necessary,” adding, “Please consider this when scheduling the May legislative agenda so that we can quickly and thoroughly discuss how to draft the content and alleviate the public’s suffering as soon as possible.”

Floor leader Park said regarding the special law, “I think it is essential for the National Assembly to work through the night or even on weekends with the determination to complete the bill review and hold a plenary session in early May to address the issue, which is urgently needed by victims who are suffering day by day.”

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