The Giant Opposition Resumes 'Legislative Solo'... Attempts Direct Referral of Franchise Business Act, etc.

Minjoo Attempts Direct Referral of Franchise Business Act and Democratic Meritorious Persons Act
"People Power Party Blocking Deliberation in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee"

The Democratic Party of Korea is attempting to forcibly pass bills that the government has opposed, including the Act on the Fair Transactions in Franchise Business (Franchise Business Act). Having secured a majority of seats once again in the general election, the party is determined to push through contentious bills as much as possible before the end of the 21st National Assembly session.

According to the Democratic Party on the 23rd, members of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee plan to convene a full committee meeting around 11 a.m. that day to approve the agenda items for plenary session submission, including the Franchise Business Act and the Act on the Honor and Support for Democratic Patriots (Democratic Patriots Act). Both bills had already passed the Political Affairs Committee in December last year but were blocked in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. However, under the National Assembly Act, if a bill remains pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for more than 60 days, the relevant standing committee can attempt direct submission to the plenary session. The Democratic Party aims to exploit this provision by forcibly submitting the bills directly today and passing them finally during the May extraordinary session.

On the 29th, the ruling party seats in the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee were empty. The ruling party members left after making procedural statements. The opposition party unilaterally passed a resolution to convene a meeting for questioning on current issues such as the attack on Representative Lee Jae-myung on the 22nd and the allegations of First Lady Kim Kun-hee receiving luxury bags. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The government and ruling party both oppose the two bills. The Franchise Business Act grants franchisees collective bargaining rights against the headquarters. If the franchise headquarters refuses to negotiate, the Fair Trade Commission can take corrective action, and criminal penalties may follow. The franchise industry opposes this, arguing that it effectively grants franchisees, as business operators, the powers of a labor union.

Regarding the Democratic Patriots Act, it expands recognition of patriots to include families and bereaved families of those injured or deceased in pro-democracy movements. The scope broadens to cases without a separate 'special law,' such as the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement. The People Power Party has criticized the bill as a 'self-benefit law for activists,' pointing out that it could even recognize participants in illegal strikes or anti-government protests as patriots.

The key issue is the requirement for direct submission to the plenary session: 'approval by at least three-fifths of the total members of the standing committee.' Currently, among the 24 members of the Political Affairs Committee, the Democratic Party holds 11 seats, and the People Power Party and People’s Future Party hold 8 seats. At least 4 of the remaining 6 members from minor negotiation groups must be persuaded to support the bills. The target members are Reform Party lawmakers Jo Eung-cheon and Yang Jeong-sook, New Future Party lawmaker Kim Jong-min, Progressive Party lawmaker Kang Seong-hee, and Innovation Party lawmaker Hwang Un-ha. Jo, who has expressed concerns about the bills, is expected to be absent from the meeting. Of the remaining five, all except Kang are former Democratic Party members.

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

A senior official of the Democratic Party's floor leadership said, "The reason for attempting direct submission alone is because the People Power Party is blocking deliberations in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee," adding, "The calls for the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, usually held by the two major parties, to be assigned to the Democratic Party also stem from these problems." He further stated, "We plan to pass as many livelihood-related bills as possible within the 21st session."