Majority Approval at General Assembly for Floor Leader Election
Term Begins with Declaration of 'Kim Yeo-sa Special Prosecutor Act'
Plan to Utilize 'Dispositive Legislation' for Livelihood Bills
Opposition Coalition to Launch Offensive if Chae Sang-byeong Rejects Special Prosecutor
Park Chan-dae was elected as the first floor leader of the 22nd National Assembly for the Democratic Party of Korea. Park, classified as a hardline pro-Lee Jae-myung faction member, announced that he would strengthen the party's offensive against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration in a two-top system with Lee Jae-myung as the 22nd National Assembly convenes.
The Democratic Party announced on the morning of the 3rd that Park, who ran unopposed at the elected members' general meeting held at the National Assembly, was elected as the first floor leader of the 22nd National Assembly with a majority of votes. In his remarks after being elected, the new floor leader Park said, "I will tie my shoelaces tightly and run with all my strength to make the 22nd National Assembly a reformist assembly," adding, "I ask senior and junior lawmakers to be a support pillar and help in the path of creating a practical reformist assembly, an active Democratic Party, and a Democratic Party trusted and loved by the people."
Park, who first stepped into society as a certified public accountant, has succeeded in being elected three consecutive times from the 20th to the 22nd National Assembly in Incheon Yeonsu-gap. He is considered a representative pro-Lee faction figure who served as a Supreme Council member under Lee Jae-myung's leadership. During the 2021 National Assembly audit, when the People Power Party attacked Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung over the Hwacheon Daeyu case, Park actively defended him and gained trust. He also served as the chief spokesperson for then-candidate Lee ahead of the 2022 20th presidential election.
Floor leader Park publicly announced that the 22nd National Assembly would forcibly pass contentious bills between the ruling and opposition parties. He is expected to first intensify the offensive to pass the 'Special Prosecutor Law on Allegations Related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee.' When declaring his candidacy for floor leader, he pledged to immediately propose the special prosecutor law on Mrs. Kim in the 22nd National Assembly. He plans to reintroduce it along with the special prosecutor law on the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation allegations and newly raised suspicions regarding luxury handbag bribery.
He also plans to accelerate the passage of contentious bills strongly opposed by the government and ruling party, such as the so-called 'Broadcasting Three Laws (Broadcasting Act, Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act, Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act amendments),' the 'Yellow Envelope Act (Labor Union Act Articles 2 and 3 amendments),' and the Grain Act amendment through a broad opposition coalition holding 192 seats. The Grain Act amendment requires the government to purchase surplus rice if prices plummet, but the government opposes it citing the enormous budget required for procurement.
Plans are also underway to speed up livelihood support bills. These include the 250,000 KRW per person livelihood recovery support fund, a key pledge of Lee's general election platform, expansion of low-interest loans to ease loan and interest burdens for small business owners, energy subsidies for small business owners, and budget allocations for support to small business owners and traditional markets. The Democratic Party is considering using 'dispositive laws,' which automatically have enforcement power upon enactment by the National Assembly, for livelihood bills.
The party also plans to continue its offensive against the government and ruling party regarding the so-called 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Law,' which passed the plenary session of the National Assembly the day before. The Presidential Office expressed strong regret immediately after the law's passage and announced 'stern measures.' This effectively hinted that President Yoon might exercise his veto power, but the Democratic Party plans to mobilize a broad opposition coalition nearing 200 seats to override the veto.
On the same day, Floor Leader Park appointed Park Sung-jun as the new floor deputy leader for operations and Kim Yong-min as the policy deputy leader.
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