Democratic Party Signals Legislative Push; People Power Party Left Relying on Public Opinion Campaigns

  [Financial News, Incheon and Goyang, Gyeonggi Province = Lee Hae-ram, Kim Hyeong-gu, Jiwon Song]The Democratic Party of Korea is moving to push through its legislative agenda in the Regular National Assembly session. If the People Power Party moves to oppose bills, the ruling party plans to make full use of the recently passed fast-track shortcut law. Its strategy is to place key bills, including legislation supporting the Lee Jae-myung administration's three major mega-projects, on the fast-track and accelerate passage within 90 days. The People Power Party, lacking legislative control, says it will try to block the Democratic Party's push through a public opinion campaign centered on the parliamentary audit and other tools.

On the 27th, the Democratic Party held a lawmakers' workshop at Inspire Hotel & Resort in Yeongjong District, Incheon, and mapped out its legislative strategy for the 100-day Regular National Assembly session beginning in September. Prime Minister Han Seong-sook and ministers Kim Jung-kwan of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Kim Seong-hwan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Bae Kyung-hoon of the Ministry of Science and ICT, and Kim Yun-duk of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport attended and urged lawmakers to help support the government through legislation.
The Democratic Party plans to use the revised National Assembly Act, which shortens the fast-track period from 330 days to 90 days, to assert legislative leadership. If it uses the fast-track process, it can also speed up the handling of bills under standing committees chaired by People Power Party lawmakers. Floor leader Han Byung-do said, "We will enter a legislative war," adding, "We will not tolerate even a moment of the People Power Party's obstruction of state affairs."
In particular, the Democratic Party said it would devote its 100 days of the Regular National Assembly session to legislative support for the Lee Jae-myung administration's three major mega-projects. A key goal is to establish legal grounds for building a semiconductor cluster in Honam and supporting investment there. At the workshop, lawmakers discussed revisions to the Electric Utility Act, the Water Supply and Waterworks Installation Act, and the Framework Act on Water Management to ensure a stable supply of electricity and water. They also reportedly mentioned amendments to the Industrial Sites and Development Act and the Building Act to develop land and build infrastructure, as well as the Mega Special Zone Act and other bills to strengthen corporate competitiveness.
The party also identified bills supporting the government's housing supply measures and police reform legislation as major priorities. With the 2027 budget review approaching, it also pledged to pass the budget within the legal deadline. Han said, "We will secure a robust budget to ease people's hardships and ensure that investments needed for youth jobs and housing, the recovery of small business owners and self-employed workers, regional growth, and the nurturing of future industries are made on time."

The People Power Party also held a retreat on the same day at Sono Calm Goyang in Gyeonggi Province. The party argued that the Lee Jae-myung administration is undermining democracy and the rule of law, and stressed that it must focus on fighting the government as a clear opposition force. Leader Jang Dong-hyuk went so far as to say, "Can we really leave things like this for another four years? The public is worried and angry."
As a minority opposition party with limited ability to lead policy legislation, it is expected to focus on checking the government and the ruling party. In particular, it reaffirmed its intention to stand out during the parliamentary audit, which is often seen as the "opposition's time." In the end, it plans to rely on a public opinion campaign. Floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik said, "During the Regular National Assembly session, we must thoroughly verify and expose the reality of the destruction and dismantling carried out by the administration," adding, "Each standing committee must point out, item by item, what is wrong in each area and present alternatives." In fact, Jang plans to visit Jeju on the 28th in connection with the disappearance case of Jang Mi-ran and criticize the move to abolish supplementary investigative authority.
The People Power Party also plans to propose follow-up legislation, arguing that reforms pushed by the Democratic Party have caused side effects. Citing the Yellow Envelope Act, the revised Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, and prosecution reform bills including the abolition of supplementary investigative authority, the party said it would pursue bills to address those issues. It has also argued that Honam is a difficult region in which to secure power, water, and labor for a semiconductor mega-cluster.
[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter