People Power Party Says It Will Give Up All Standing Committee Chair Posts If It Does Not Get the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair

[Financial News] The People Power Party said on the 29th that it would give up all 18 standing committee chair posts if the Democratic Party of Korea does not yield the chairmanship of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The move is meant to let the Democratic Party bear full responsibility by monopolizing the standing committee chairs if the opposition cannot check the government through the committee.
According to a briefing on the results of the party caucus by Choi Eun-seok, the senior deputy floor spokesperson, Kim Sung-won proposed that if the party cannot secure the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, it should respond by giving up all standing committee chair posts. Kim is a three-term senior lawmaker and one of the candidates for standing committee chair posts. His position reflects a determination to take the committee chair even if he himself cannot serve as a standing committee chair.
It was reported that none of the lawmakers who attended the caucus opposed Kim's proposal, and the floor leadership also said its official position is that it will not take part in negotiations over the formation of the National Assembly unless it secures the committee chair. The view is that, since the Democratic Party held the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair in the first half of the 22nd National Assembly and used it to push legislation through, there would be no way to check the ruling party if the chair is not taken back in the second half.
Speaker of the National Assembly Jung Sung-sik and the Democratic Party of Korea plan to convene a plenary session of the National Assembly on the 30th and push ahead with the election of standing committee chairs. If the People Power Party ultimately refuses to negotiate on the formation of the Assembly, the plan is to distribute standing committee seats under the leadership of Jung and the Democratic Party. A plan for the Democratic Party to monopolize the standing committee chairs is also being considered.
[email protected] Kim Yun-ho Reporter