Three 'Minsheng Bills' the Democratic Party Aims to Pass in the 21st National Assembly

'Franchise Business Act Amendment' Granting Negotiation Rights to Franchise Owners
'Agricultural and Marine Products Price Stabilization Act' Ensuring Farmers' Income
Democrats Lead Trillion-Won Scale Legislation for 'Livelihood' Reasons

With 41 days remaining in the 21st National Assembly's term, the Democratic Party of Korea has launched a final legislative drive. The Democratic Party is preparing to vote on the 'Special Prosecutor Act for Fallen Marine Corps Members' and several livelihood-related bills all at once as soon as the plenary session is convened.

The Democratic Party is negotiating with the People Power Party regarding holding two plenary sessions on May 2 and 28. Once the plenary session is held, the 'Special Prosecutor Act for Fallen Marine Corps Members' will be automatically submitted. The Democratic Party designated the special prosecutor act as a fast-track bill in October last year, after investigating the death of a Marine Corps member in July last year and finding evidence of obstruction of investigation and cover-up. The Democratic Party's Task Force on the Truth Behind the Marine Corps Member's Death has been emphasizing daily that "accepting the special prosecutor act is the will of the people."

The Marine Corps Reserve Regiment is holding a press conference on the 17th at the National Assembly to urge the passage of the "Special Prosecutor Act for Chaesang-byeong of the 21st National Assembly." Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Democratic Party is accelerating the processing of bills on two tracks: the special prosecutor act and livelihood bills. The three livelihood bills that Im O-kyung, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, pledged to pass within the 21st term are the amendment to the Special Act on Jeonse Fraud, the amendment to the Franchise Business Act, and the Act on Stabilization of Agricultural and Marine Products Prices.

On the 18th, the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee held a plenary meeting and passed a motion solely by the opposition party to submit the 'Act on Stabilization of Agricultural and Marine Products Prices' to the plenary session. This act allows the government to set a reference price for agricultural and marine products and pay the difference if prices fall below that level.

On the 18th, at the plenary meeting of the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee held at the National Assembly in Seoul, Chairman So Byeonghun of the committee unilaterally passed a motion by the opposition party to directly refer the "Amendment to the Grain Management Act" and the "Amendment to the Agricultural Products Price Stabilization Act" to the plenary session of the National Assembly.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 17th, the Democratic Party held consecutive press conferences urging the passage of the amendments to the Special Act on Jeonse Fraud and the Franchise Business Act.

The amendment to the Special Act on Jeonse Fraud centers on the principle of 'payment first, recourse later.' This amendment was proposed by the Democratic Party in response to criticisms that the special act enacted last year was ineffective. Park Ju-min, the Democratic Party's deputy floor leader, explained regarding the 'funding plan' that "the government will evaluate and purchase bonds," adding, "Although there is a significant difference in budget estimates, most experts predict the amount will be around 2 trillion won at most."

The amendment to the Franchise Business Act guarantees franchise store owners the right to organize and negotiate collectively. The Political Affairs Committee will hold a plenary meeting on the 23rd to discuss the direct referral of the amendment to the Franchise Business Act and other bills to the plenary session. Min Byung-duk, a Democratic Party lawmaker, emphasized, "This is a very important bill since the Labor Act, guaranteeing the negotiation rights of the weaker party in a dominant-subordinate relationship." The Franchise Industry Association opposed the amendment, stating, "The amendment grants franchise store owners rights similar to union collective bargaining rights."