Park Chan-dae "Cannot Concede Judiciary and Steering Committees... People Power Party, Start Negotiations"

Democratic Party Plans to Control Legislation, Steering, and Science Committees
Meeting Tonight Between Ruling and Opposition Chief Whips
Park Seong-jun: "Will Clearly Convey Intentions"

The Democratic Party of Korea announced that it will complete the National Assembly organization process by the 7th. The floor leaders of the People Power Party and the Democratic Party are scheduled to meet on the evening of the 2nd to discuss the organization of the Assembly. The Democratic Party proposed dividing the chairmanships of the standing committees with a ratio of 11 to 7, on the premise that they will take the chairmanships of three major committees, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, held a press briefing at the National Assembly at 11 a.m. that day and said, "Isn't it impossible to have dialogue and compromise without making any concessions?" He added, "If the People Power Party continues to take an irresponsible attitude regarding the organization of the Assembly, the Democratic Party will proceed with the organization as stipulated by the National Assembly Act." Park Sung-jun, the deputy floor leader for floor operations, said, "This is the first time in the history of the Constitution that the opposition party has been given a sole majority in the 22nd National Assembly," and stated, "We will firmly check the Yoon Suk-yeol administration by reflecting the will of the general election."

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at a press briefing related to the organization of the National Assembly held at the National Assembly in Seoul on the morning of the 2nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Park proposed that, according to the proportion of seats in the National Assembly, the Democratic Party take chairmanships of 11 out of the 18 standing committees, and the People Power Party take 7. The Democratic Party intends to take the chairmanships of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which is a key gateway for passing laws, the Steering Committee, and the Science, Technology, Information and Communications Broadcasting Committee, which is responsible for media reform including the three Broadcasting Acts, among the 11 standing committees.

However, he also said that if negotiations do not proceed smoothly, it is possible to take all 18 standing committee chairmanships. Park said, "If the People Power Party does not engage in sincere negotiations, we may take all 18 standing committees instead of the 11 to 7 split," adding, "I hope such a situation can be avoided." He continued, "Even today, you should clearly present the seven standing committee chairmanships and start negotiations without delay," and said, "At present, we have no intention of conceding the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Steering Committee."

When asked if the People Power Party is not negotiating because they cannot get the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, he replied, "Currently, the People Power Party holds the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, so the National Assembly is unable to fulfill its basic legislative duties." He added, "Reflecting the will of the general election, it is absolutely necessary to make the Assembly a working legislature, especially regarding the Legislation and Judiciary Committee." According to precedent, the party with the most seats takes the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the second-largest party takes the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.