Rep. Kim Dae-sik: “One day for the ‘fabricated-indictment’ special counsel bill, seven months for the Busan Global Act...”

[Financial News] Rep. Kim Dae-sik (Sasang District, Busan; People Power Party) held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Building on the morning of the 5th and called on the Democratic Party of Korea to swiftly process the bill.
Rep. Kim said at the press conference, “The same Legislation and Judiciary Committee processed the ‘special counsel bill’ in just one day, while turning its back on the Busan Global Act for more than seven months.” He stressed, “What the Democratic Party should do today is not process the special counsel bill, but listen to the voices of Busan residents.”
After adopting the special counsel bill as its official party position at a caucus meeting on the 3rd, the Democratic Party completed the process the next day, on the 4th, from referral to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee through the Bill Review Subcommittee and the Agenda Coordination Subcommittee to approval at a plenary meeting. In protest over the bill’s passage, People Power Party lawmakers walked out just before the vote.
By contrast, the “Special Act on the Creation of Busan Global Hub City” passed the Public Administration and Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Bill Review No. 1 by agreement between the ruling and opposition parties on March 24, and was approved by the full committee on the 26th, but has yet to be placed on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s agenda more than seven months later. The special act provides for the creation of international logistics and international finance special zones in Busan, as well as support for education and living conditions needed to attract investment in advanced industries and foreign companies and talent.
Busan lawmakers, including Rep. Kim, pointed out that the Democratic Party delayed placing the bill on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s agenda on March 30, citing the statutory deliberation period, but that the review had not progressed even after the period ended. The Democratic Party then said on April 21 that it would comprehensively revise and redesign the existing bill to align it with the maritime capital strategy. Yet six months later, no concrete redesign proposal has been put forward.
Rep. Kim stressed, “A bill signed by about 1.6 million people and backed by 18 Busan lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties when it was introduced has been unable to clear the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for more than seven months. The Democratic Party must explain to Busan residents why it keeps delaying a bill vital to Busan’s future, after getting the special counsel bill through the committee in just one day. The Democratic Party should immediately put the Busan Global Act on the committee’s agenda and work with the ruling and opposition parties to pass it during this Regular National Assembly session.”[email protected] Byun Ok-hwan Reporter