Ruling and Opposition Parties Complete Formation of Ethics Committee for Second Half of National Assembly... Equal 6+6 Members from Both Sides

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to form the Ethics Special Committee four months after the launch of the second half of the National Assembly. However, there are criticisms that the committee is composed only of an equal number of members from both parties (6 each), excluding non-negotiating parties.

The National Assembly Steering Committee passed a resolution to form the Ethics Special Committee at a plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 9th.

The Ethics Special Committee will be composed of a total of 12 members, with 6 from each of the ruling and opposition parties. In the previous Steering Committee, there were 6 members from the ruling party, 5 from the opposition, and 1 from the non-negotiating Justice Party, but this time the Ethics Special Committee is formed only by the ruling and opposition parties.

In response, Lee Eun-ju, floor leader of the Justice Party, protested during a procedural speech. Leader Lee said to Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party and chair of the Steering Committee, "As the floor leader of the Justice Party, I was not informed in advance about the formation of the Ethics Special Committee," and asked, "Is this not excluding the non-negotiating parties?"

The operation period of the Ethics Special Committee is until the end of the 21st National Assembly in late May 2024.