The Democratic Party Proposes Veto on Sewol Ferry Support Act and Four Other Bills... Standoff Expected in National Assembly Organization

Choo Kyung-ho "Opposition forces 'Jeonse Fraud Act' and others without agreement"
On parliamentary organization "Violation of law and customs, an invitation to totalitarianism"

On the 29th, Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, announced that he would recommend President Yoon Suk-yeol exercise the right to request reconsideration (veto) on four laws passed without opposition agreement in the last plenary session of the 21st National Assembly, including the Special Act on Jeonse Fraud, the Act on Honoring Democratic Patriots, the Act on Supporting the Korean Beef Industry, and the Act on Establishing Agricultural and Fishery Chambers.

Moreover, he opposed handing over the chairmanship of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee to the Democratic Party, signaling that the 22nd National Assembly, which opens on the 30th, is likely to begin in a confrontational political climate.

At a press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the same day, Floor Leader Choo described the bills forcibly passed by the opposition as "'three no's' bills with no sufficient legal review, no social discussion, and no bipartisan agreement."

He added, "For bills that are unilaterally pushed through by the majority party's numerical advantage without sufficient consultation between the ruling and opposition parties, we have no choice but to strongly recommend the president exercise the right to request reconsideration."

However, regarding the amendment to the Sewol Ferry Victims Support Act passed the previous day, he stated, "Since it is a bill extending the period for medical expense support for victims, we will not recommend exercising the right to request reconsideration."

Chu Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a press briefing held at the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He also solidified his stance that, based on the opposition Democratic Party's forceful passage of bills the previous day, the People Power Party cannot concede the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in the 22nd National Assembly.

The Democratic Party has insisted on taking the chairmanships of 11 standing committees, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which serves as the final gatekeeper for bill submission, and the Steering Committee overseen by the Presidential Office. In contrast, the People Power Party holds the position that, according to parliamentary customs, the Speaker should be from the largest party in the assembly, while the chairmanships of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Steering Committee should go to the second-largest party.

Floor Leader Choo pointed out, "If the overwhelmingly dominant party, which moreover lacks self-restraint, takes even the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the minimal barrier to prevent parliamentary dictatorship will collapse."

He strongly criticized, especially referring to incidents in the 21st National Assembly such as member lending and the neutralization of the Agenda Adjustment Committee, saying, "In a place where the majority recklessly tramples on laws, traditions, and customs, parliamentary democracy has no place. That is merely an invitation to totalitarianism."

He further stressed, "The organization of the assembly should be carried out with respect for the customs accumulated since previous National Assemblies and in the spirit of bipartisan agreement. The 21st National Assembly already experienced dysfunction from the outset of its organization, foreshadowing extreme political strife. If the 22nd National Assembly's organization is carried out according to the tyranny of the majority, it will inevitably bring another four years of despair to the people."

With a confrontational atmosphere forming over the assembly organization even before the start of the 22nd National Assembly, negotiations are expected to face difficulties.

According to the National Assembly Act, the first plenary session of the temporary National Assembly held immediately after its opening must elect the Speaker, and within three days thereafter, the standing committee chairpersons must be elected. Since the first plenary session of the 22nd National Assembly is scheduled for the 5th of next month, the deadline for assembly organization negotiations is the 7th, but confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties is anticipated.