Jo O-seop Preliminary Candidate "Will Abolish National Assembly Members' Privileges"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jo Oseop, a preliminary candidate of the Democratic Party for the National Assembly election in Buk-gu (Gap), Gwangju Metropolitan City, pledged to abolish the privileges of National Assembly members and create a working National Assembly system.

On the 19th, Candidate Jo stated in a press release, “I will abolish the privileges of National Assembly members and establish a system to create a working National Assembly that does not idle due to political strife.”

To this end, Candidate Jo proposed the following pledges: ▲ introduction of the national recall system ▲ establishment of penalty provisions for National Assembly members’ absenteeism ▲ strengthening of the National Assembly members’ ethics regulations ▲ systematization of the legislative schedule.

The national recall system aims to allow citizens to recall National Assembly members for illegal and improper acts such as violation of duties, abuse of authority, and neglect of duty as stipulated in Article 46 of the Constitution. However, to prevent abuse of the recall system, if 5% of voters request it, the Constitutional Court will review and decide on the grounds for recall.

There is also a plan to establish penalty provisions for absenteeism, imposing severe disciplinary actions such as salary cuts and suspension of attendance on National Assembly members who are absent from 10% or more of meetings such as plenary sessions or standing committees.

Regarding salary cuts, if a member is absent for more than one-fifth of plenary sessions, 5% of the daily allowance and regular subsidy will be cut for the corresponding days. Severe disciplinary actions such as suspension of attendance will be applied for absences of 10% or more (suspension for 30 days or more), 20% or more (suspension for 60 days or more), and the highest level of expulsion will also be possible.

However, those who submit prior requests due to official business trips or illness, as well as party leaders and concurrent government ministers, will be exempt from disciplinary actions.

Additionally, the legislative schedule will be systematized so that the Speaker of the National Assembly decides the annual National Assembly operation schedule through voting by the representatives of negotiation groups and the National Assembly Steering Committee.

On the day of the opening of a temporary session, regular meetings of standing committees must be compulsorily held, and subcommittees must also be mandatorily convened at least four times a month.

By strengthening the ethics regulations for National Assembly members, the National Assembly Ethics Special Committee will be made permanent, and the review of members’ qualifications and disciplinary matters will be conducted within 60 days from the date of referral to curb reckless remarks by members.

Candidate Jo said, “Considering that some National Assembly members in the Gwangju area ranked last in attendance rates in the 20th National Assembly, it is necessary to establish penalty provisions for absenteeism to punish members who do not work,” and added, “The legislative schedule must be enforced to prevent some parties and members from pushing the National Assembly into political strife by forcing the holding of standing and subcommittee meetings.”

He continued, “To restore trust in the National Assembly and politics, institutional measures must be prepared so that National Assembly members can voluntarily relinquish their privileges,” and added, “I will make the 21st National Assembly a National Assembly that has no choice but to work.”