DPK Declares Post-Holiday 'Legislative Speed Battle'...Will the US Investment Special Committee Face Continued Turmoil?

The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to step up efforts to pass livelihood- and reform-related bills, announcing a policy of holding a plenary session once a week through April. The People Power Party plans to block this through measures such as unlimited debate (filibuster). As the legislative war intensifies, concerns are emerging that even the Special Act on Investment in the United States, which was to be passed by agreement in early next month, could end up adrift.

During a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly on the 19th, Han Byungdo, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "We will accelerate livelihood and reform legislation with the determination to wage a legislative war. We cannot miss the golden time for livelihood and reform," adding, "To pass livelihood and reform bills on the 24th, I strongly recommended to the Speaker of the National Assembly that a plenary session be convened."

During a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly on the 19th, Han Byungdo, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said there are plans to hold a plenary session after the Lunar New Year holiday to swiftly handle bills pending at the National Assembly. Yonhap News

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The Democratic Party of Korea is pushing for a plenary session on the 24th. The Special Acts on Administrative Integration for regions such as Gwangju-Jeonnam, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and South Chungcheong-Daejeon are the top priority for handling. Kim Hyunjung, floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "We believe the administrative integration acts must be passed by the end of this month to be implemented starting in July, which is why we consider them the highest priority."

In addition, the following are being mentioned as candidate items: judicial and prosecutorial reform; amendment of the National Referendum Act to hold local elections and a constitutional amendment referendum simultaneously; and the third amendment to the Commercial Act to make the retirement (cancellation) of treasury shares mandatory. On the 22nd, the Democratic Party of Korea will hold a general assembly of its lawmakers to discuss prosecutorial reform related to the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, as well as judicial reform including the crime of legal distortion, the introduction of constitutional complaints against court rulings, and increasing the number of Supreme Court justices. The party’s plan is to hold a plenary session every Thursday in March and April to handle legislation related to state affairs tasks and major social reforms.

If the political situation freezes over, the special committee for handling the Special Act on Investment in the United States, whose chair is held by the People Power Party’s lawmaker Kim Sanghoon, could also face a major test. Appearing on KBS the same day, Shin Dongwook, Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, said in relation to the three judicial reform bills and others, "We cannot recklessly pass these under the beautiful labels of livelihood and reform."

In response, floor spokesperson Kim said, "Since there are differences in position between the ruling and opposition parties on reform bills, we are prepared to allow filibusters. However, if they again try to hold up the entire slate of livelihood bills as they did at the last plenary session, it is the position of the Democratic Party of Korea that we will pass livelihood bills even if it requires revising the National Assembly Act."

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