"Lawmakers Absent from Meetings to Have Allowances Cut"…Hwang Jeong-a Proposes 'Working National Assembly Act'

"If You Don't Work, Return Even the Taxpayer Money"

A bill has been proposed to reduce allowances and other benefits if a member of the National Assembly is absent from meetings without a legitimate reason such as taking leave or performing duties as party leader.

On the 10th, Hwang Jeong-ah, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced that she had taken the lead in proposing the "Partial Amendment to the Act on the Staff and Allowances of Members of the National Assembly," which contains such provisions.

According to the bill, if a member of the National Assembly is absent from a meeting without a legitimate reason, the allowances paid the following month, legislative activity expenses, and special activity expenses will be reduced to impose sanctions for non-attendance. Specifically, the bill stipulates that the salary of a member of the National Assembly will be cut by 10% per day of absence.

Hwang Jeong-ah, Senior Researcher at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, giving a greeting
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Jeong-hoon = On the morning of the 8th, at the Democratic Party of Korea's welcome ceremony for newly recruited talents held at the National Assembly, Hwang Jeong-ah, Senior Researcher at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, is giving a greeting. 2024.1.8
uwg806@yna.co.kr
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Rep. Hwang criticized, "Although public demand for a working National Assembly is increasing, the ruling party is boycotting even the first plenary session of the 22nd National Assembly without any sanctions, absenting themselves from meetings specified by law."

She added, "If the deadlock continues, urgent legislation in the newly inaugurated 22nd National Assembly will be delayed, increasing the suffering of the people's livelihood economy. Therefore, there is a growing need to establish a permanent National Assembly operation system and improve attendance rates of members of the National Assembly to meet the public demand for a 'working National Assembly.'"

Rep. Hwang also stated, "The public does not pay salaries with taxpayers' money to protect the President and the First Lady. If the People Power Party refuses to work, they should at least return the taxpayers' money."