Opposition Unilaterally Passes Sunset Clause on Safe Freight Rate System in Land Transport Committee... Ruling Party 'Boycotts' (Summary)

Today, the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee Subcommittee and Full Committee Meetings Held in Succession
Opposition Party Unilaterally Passes Safety Freight Rate System
Ruling Party Says "Stop the Immediate Legislative Show"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The amendment to the 'Act on the Transport Business of Freight Vehicles,' which extends the sunset clause of the freight truck safety fare system by three years, was passed solely by the opposition party at the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on the 9th. Members of the People Power Party who did not attend the meeting protested, saying, "The Democratic Party must immediately stop this legislative show."

The Land Committee held a plenary session that morning and unilaterally approved the amendment to extend the safety fare system, which was set to expire at the end of this year, for three more years.

The amendment included a revised supplementary provision stating that "the safety fare system will operate until December 31, 2025."

People Power Party members and government officials were absent from the meeting. The People Power Party and the government are insisting on the Freight Solidarity's prior return to work. Kim Min-gi, chairman of the Land Committee from the Democratic Party, expressed regret, saying, "Despite the fact that government officials, including the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, were dealing with a socially sensitive and important bill review, they only submitted absence notes and unilaterally did not attend."

Eom Myeong-so, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is reviewing documents before the start of the meeting at the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Subcommittee held at the National Assembly on the 9th. The Democratic Party is expected to approve a proposal to extend the sunset clause of the 'Safe Freight Rate System' by three years at the Land Subcommittee. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

The safety fare system is a system that publicly announces the minimum fare that freight truck owners receive. It was introduced as a three-year sunset system starting in 2020 for two items, 'export-import containers and cement,' following the amendment of the Act on the Transport Business of Freight Vehicles in 2018. The sunset clause is set to expire on December 31.

The Freight Solidarity is striking, demanding the permanent establishment of the safety fare system and the expansion of applicable items. Earlier, Democratic Party members of the Land Committee expressed their willingness to accept the government's and ruling party's proposal to extend the sunset clause of the safety fare system by three years, but the People Power Party Land Committee members stated their position of 'Freight Solidarity's prior return to work, then discussion,' resulting in no agreement.

With the failure of the agreement, the Democratic Party held a subcommittee and plenary session of the Land Committee alone to process the bill. However, it seems difficult for the amendment to pass the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee. If Kim Do-eup, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the People Power Party, puts a brake on it, the bill may face difficulties during the committee process.

In protest against the Democratic Party's unilateral processing that day, a press conference was held, stating, "The Democratic Party has once again become a henchman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (Minnochoong)," and added, "If the reason for pushing through the already ineffective government bill is to provide justification for the Freight Solidarity's withdrawal of transport refusal, they must immediately stop this legislative show."