Ruling and opposition parties fail to agree on plenary session schedule... 원 구성 also sidelined

Meeting of Ruling and Opposition Floor Leaders Chaired by Chairman Kim
Disagreements Persist on Special Prosecutor Law by Chae Sang-byeong and Pension Reform
Uncertainty Over Tomorrow's Plenary Session

The People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea failed to agree on the agenda for the final plenary session of the 21st National Assembly.

On the 27th, Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, and Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, held a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly presided over by Speaker Kim Jin-pyo. During the meeting, they continued discussions on the 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act,' pension reform measures, and the organization of the 22nd National Assembly, but failed to narrow their differences.

People's Power Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho (right) and Democratic Party Floor Leader Park Chan-dae are leaving their seats after answering reporters' questions following a meeting chaired by National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Democratic Party insists that the plenary session on the 28th must handle the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act and the revised Special Act on Jeonse Fraud, which were returned to the National Assembly after President Yoon Seok-yeol exercised his veto power.

On the other hand, the People Power Party holds the position that contentious bills not agreed upon by both parties should be passed on to the 22nd National Assembly for re-discussion at the standing committee level.

After the meeting, Floor Leader Choo told reporters, "I cannot agree to make a decision tomorrow (the 28th)," adding, "Currently, even the agenda for tomorrow has not been agreed upon."

Floor Leader Park also stated, "We are determined to hold the plenary session, pass the necessary bills, and additionally agree on and handle bills related to people’s livelihoods."

The ruling and opposition parties also failed to narrow their differences over the pension reform bill, which has emerged as the biggest issue in the final stages of the 21st National Assembly. The Democratic Party and Speaker Kim proposed to at least proceed with adjusting the contribution rate and income replacement rate (parametric reform) first, but the People Power Party insisted that proper discussions should be held in the 22nd National Assembly.

They also failed to reach an agreement on the organization of the 22nd National Assembly. According to the National Assembly Act, the deadline for organizing the Assembly is the 7th of next month.

The floor leaders of both parties are expected to continue negotiations by meeting additionally before the plenary session on the afternoon of the 28th, when the Democratic Party has announced it will convene the session unilaterally.