"Stop Tax Cuts for the Rich" · "Dark Intentions Behind Broadcasting Control"... Finance and Science Committees Clash One After Another

Dispute Between Ruling and Opposition Over Standing Committee Subchair Appointment
Challenges Arise in Handling Pending Issues Like Special Cases for Comprehensive Real Estate Tax

The above photo is not related to the article. / Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Juni Park] The National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee and the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee are repeatedly facing disruptions over the appointment of subcommittee chairpersons. Although the activities of the standing committees in the second half of the National Assembly, which had been on hold for 53 days, were normalized last month on the 22nd through an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, aftershocks continue. Critics point out that sharp confrontations between the parties have pushed public livelihood issues to the back burner.

The Planning and Finance Committee has not reached an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties over the appointment of the Tax Subcommittee chairperson. As a result, the special comprehensive real estate tax bill scheduled to be applied this year has not passed the committee. Taxpayers are set to begin applications from the 16th of next month, but if the bill is not amended by the 20th of this month, confusion in the taxpayer selection process is inevitable. The government's plan to reduce the comprehensive real estate tax, announced last month as part of the tax reform plan, may also be derailed.

The Democratic Party argues that since the chairperson of the Planning and Finance Committee is from the ruling party, the Tax Subcommittee chairperson should be allocated to the opposition party. In response, Ryu Seong-geol, the ruling party's floor spokesperson for the committee and a member of the People Power Party, said in a phone interview on the 19th, "Since the 17th National Assembly, there has been no precedent of the opposition party holding the Tax Subcommittee chairperson position," adding, "I contacted the Democratic Party again this morning, but they did not respond to meet."

Ryu added, "If there are no significant disagreements on the comprehensive real estate tax special measures, the bill should be processed separately from the election of the Tax Subcommittee chairperson," and said he would explore possible solutions.

On the other hand, the Democratic Party clearly stated its position that it should take the Tax Subcommittee chairperson role. Ko Yong-jin, a member of the Planning and Finance Committee from the Democratic Party, said in a phone interview that day, "Although there is a precedent for subcommittees, it can change," and countered, "Moreover, since the government and ruling party are pushing tax reforms such as tax cuts for the wealthy, it is only natural from the Democratic Party's perspective that we take charge."

The Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee has not even appointed a ruling party floor spokesperson due to the fallout from the subcommittee chairperson appointment issue. The previous day, the committee held a plenary session to discuss the appointment of floor spokespersons, but when Chairman Jeong Cheong-rae attempted to propose and vote on the formation of the bill review subcommittee before appointing floor spokespersons, People Power Party members protested the voting procedure and all walked out, causing a disruption. Chairman Jeong forcibly appointed Cho Seung-rae, a Democratic Party member, as the chairperson of the 2nd Subcommittee (Information and Communications Broadcasting Subcommittee), which will handle the public broadcasting governance improvement bill.

Song Eon-seok, the People Power Party's senior deputy floor leader, criticized at a floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "The dark intention to seize control of public broadcasting by dominating the Information and Communications Broadcasting Subcommittee has been revealed to the public," and pointed out, "Article 49, Paragraph 2 of the National Assembly Act states that the agenda should be set in consultation with floor spokespersons, and nowhere in the National Assembly Act does it allow a standing committee to unilaterally decide the agenda. The Democratic Party has thoroughly trampled on the National Assembly Act."