Chairpersons of National Assembly Standing Committees, Only Jang Je-won Elected as Science and ICT Committee Chair after 'Twists and Turns'

7 Members Should Be Replaced, but Only 5 Decided to Change
Due to Internal Democratic Party Issues, Only the Science and ICT Committee Chairperson Was Elected

On the 30th, after much turmoil, the National Assembly elected Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, as the Chairperson of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee. Originally, the National Assembly planned to elect seven standing committee chairpersons to lead the last year of the 21st National Assembly on this day, but due to the complex internal interests of both ruling and opposition parties, only the chairperson of the Science and Technology Committee was elected.

Jang received 173 votes in favor out of 282 members present at the plenary session, securing 61.3% of the votes. Previously, Jang served as the Chairperson of the Public Administration and Security Committee for one year during the latter half of the 21st National Assembly and will now serve as the Chairperson of the Science and Technology Committee for the remaining year.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Immediately after his election, Chairman Jang said in his greeting, "I was elected with 55% when I was chosen as the Chairperson of the Public Administration and Security Committee, but this time I was elected with 61%," adding, "I sincerely thank the Democratic Party members who helped with this rapid increase in support." He continued, "I will do my best for the development and strengthening of the science and technology sector, which is at the forefront of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's national agenda," and stated, "I will also accelerate reform efforts to restore public trust by properly establishing the public responsibilities in the broadcasting and communications sectors."

Earlier, the ruling and opposition parties had agreed in a standing committee allocation negotiation in July last year that, as of June 1, the People Power Party and the Democratic Party would swap the chairmanships of the Science and Technology Committee and the Public Administration and Security Committee, respectively. Accordingly, Chairman Jang resigned from the Public Administration and Security Committee and took over as Chairperson of the Science and Technology Committee.

Yoon Kwan-seok, Chairperson of the Industry, Trade, and Energy Committee, Resigns Over Cash Envelope Scandal... Kim Kyung-hyup Accepts Demand to Resign as Chairperson of the Environment and Labor Committee

Until the morning of the day, it was expected that, in addition to Chairman Jang, Jeong Cheong-rae of the Democratic Party would be elected as Chairperson of the Public Administration and Security Committee, Park Hong-geun of the Democratic Party as Chairperson of the Education Committee, Kim Kyung-hyup of the Democratic Party as Chairperson of the Environment and Labor Committee, and Han Jeong-ae of the Democratic Party as Chairperson of the Health and Welfare Committee. According to last year's ruling-opposition agreement, the plenary session was also supposed to elect the Chairpersons of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts and the Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, but these two chairpersons were postponed to the June National Assembly. The delay in appointing the Chairperson of the Budget and Accounts Committee was reportedly due to circumstances within the People Power Party. Kim Han-gyu, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, told reporters after a floor strategy meeting, "Our party has already selected a candidate, but the People Power Party said they need more time internally to select their candidate, so the appointment was postponed to the June National Assembly."

There was a change around noon regarding the appointment of standing committee chairpersons. In a written briefing, spokesperson Kim Han-gyu said, "The Chairpersons of the Budget and Accounts Committee, the Industry, Trade, and Energy Committee, and the Environment and Labor Committee are planned to be elected at the June National Assembly," adding, "Chairperson Yoon Kwan-seok of the Industry, Trade, and Energy Committee has expressed willingness to accept the Democratic Party's demand for resignation, and Chairperson Kim Kyung-hyup of the Environment and Labor Committee has accepted the floor's request."

The originally scheduled election of the Chairperson of the Environment and Labor Committee was thus postponed to the June National Assembly. Earlier, spokesperson Kim Han-gyu said after a floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly, "There will be no vote today to replace the Chairperson of the Industry, Trade, and Energy Committee," and added, "The Democratic Party has requested Mr. Yoon to resign, but he has refused. I want to make it clear that the Democratic Party is not cooperating to allow Mr. Yoon to retain his chairmanship nor trying to protect him through other means." Although the uncertainty surrounding the resignation of the Industry, Trade, and Energy Committee Chairperson was resolved, Kim, who had lost his seat in the first trial due to unreported land transactions, ultimately declined the Environment and Labor Committee chairmanship, likely due to public opinion and other considerations.

Park Hong-geun, Chairperson of the Education Committee, and Han Jeong-ae, Chairperson of the Welfare Committee, Refuse Appointments

Subsequently, the situation changed again after a Democratic Party members' meeting. Park Hong-geun and Han Jeong-ae, who were initially considered for the Education and Welfare Committee chairmanships, expressed their intention not to take the standing committee chair positions during the meeting. The Democratic Party's members' meeting concluded with the statement, "Considering the expectations for reform and innovation, it would be better to discuss this within the party," and "The National Assembly election process for the initially recommended standing committee chair candidates will not proceed, and further discussions will be held within the party." During the meeting, concerns were raised about the principles applied to this standing committee chair allocation. Negative voices emerged regarding senior members who had served as floor leaders and ministers taking the chairmanships. There was opposition to the allocation method applied last year when the Democratic Party became the opposition party.

Ultimately, the Democratic Party plans to reestablish the principles for the standing committee chair recommendation process through members' meetings or leadership discussions and then proceed with subsequent personnel procedures. Since the next plenary session is scheduled for the 12th of next month, it is expected that the follow-up standing committee chair appointments will also be carried out on that day.