First Working-Level Meeting of the National Consultation Body... Will Progress Accelerate on Livelihood, Pension, and Constitutional Amendment?

The first working-level meeting to select the agenda for the ruling party-opposition-government national consultation body will be held after two weeks. The working-level meeting was originally scheduled for the 26th of last month but was postponed due to the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. While the ruling and opposition parties have different desired agendas, if they agree on the official launch of the national consultation body, it is expected that momentum will build for livelihood and economic bills, pension reform, and constitutional amendment discussions that had been stalled due to the impeachment political situation.

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A key official from the People Power Party said in a phone call on the 9th, "Both the Semiconductor Special Act and pension reform are included in the agenda," adding, "We also plan to propose a special committee for the constitutional amendment." Since there is a significant difference of opinion regarding the exemption clause for the 52-hour workweek in the Semiconductor Special Act, which was proposed as the party's official stance, last-minute persuasion efforts are expected. In addition, they are likely to propose the prompt passage of the K-Chips Act to expand tax credits for semiconductor companies and the National Power Grid Expansion Act to support advanced industrial facilities.

They are also expected to re-propose the establishment of a special committee at the National Assembly level for pension reform. Since the opening of the 22nd National Assembly last year, the People Power Party has advocated for the formation of a pension reform special committee, but the opposition party has rejected it, arguing that discussions should be held within the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee. Given that pension reform discussions have been delayed due to disagreements between the two parties, attention is focused on whether the operation of the national consultation body will open the way for pension reform discussions.

The constitutional amendment special committee proposed by the People Power Party concerns the power structure. The problems of the presidential system with excessive power were revealed during the emergency martial law on December 3rd, and the ruling party is also showing an active stance toward constitutional amendment. Since Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong showed his intention for constitutional amendment to Speaker Woo Won-shik at the end of last year, there is a possibility that constitutional amendment discussions will intensify within the national consultation body.

However, conflict is expected as the Democratic Party is pushing for the preparation of an additional supplementary budget (supplementary budget) of at least 20 trillion won. On the previous day, Democratic Party lawmaker Heo Young said at the Livelihood and Economic Recovery Team meeting, "We must overcome the crisis by preparing the supplementary budget in stages, starting with 20 trillion won as the basic baseline," adding, "Although the government said it would expedite 67% of the first half budget, this is insufficient to overcome domestic and external uncertainties and restore the livelihood economy." Earlier, Kim Sang-hoon, the People Power Party's Policy Committee chairman, drew a line on the Democratic Party's supplementary budget intention, saying, "Livelihood legislation takes priority over the supplementary budget," and "Ultimately, their demand is to secure the regional currency budget again."

The working-level meeting, held at 11 a.m. on the same day, will be attended by the policy committee chairs of the ruling and opposition parties, the Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and the Secretary to the Speaker of the National Assembly.

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