Democratic Party Dominates Legislation and Steering Committees... People Power Party Holds Protest Rally in Rotunda Hall (Comprehensive)

Jeong Cheong-rae as Chairman of the Legislation Committee, Park Chan-dae as Chairman of the Steering Committee
Ruling Party: "The National Assembly has fallen into a one-man dictatorship under Lee Jae-myung"

The Democratic Party of Korea monopolized 11 standing committee chairmanships, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair, in the 22nd National Assembly. In response, the People Power Party criticized the Democratic Party through rallies, accusing them of shielding Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung from judicial risks.

On the afternoon of the 10th, the National Assembly held a plenary session attended only by opposition lawmakers, including the Democratic Party of Korea, and elected chairpersons for 11 standing committees such as the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the Steering Committee, and the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee. Jeong Cheong-rae was elected as Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party floor leader, as Chair of the Steering Committee, Kim Young-ho as Chair of the Education Committee, Choi Min-hee as Chair of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, Shin Jeong-hoon as Chair of the Public Administration and Security Committee, Jeon Jae-soo as Chair of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, Eo Ki-gu as Chair of the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee, Park Joo-min as Chair of the Health and Welfare Committee, Ahn Ho-young as Chair of the Environment and Labor Committee, Maeng Sung-kyu as Chair of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, and Park Jung as Chair of the Special Budget and Accounts Committee. The Democratic Party plans to submit the list of standing and special committee members based on this to the National Assembly Secretariat.

Speaker Woo Won-shik stated that the formation of the committees, including the chairpersons, proceeded according to the National Assembly Act. Speaking at the plenary session, Speaker Woo said, "It is the duty of the people to open the National Assembly as soon as possible to take care of people's livelihoods. Therefore, I judged that it is right to open the National Assembly." He added, "In a time when social conflicts are deepening as they are now, to reduce conflicts at least, minimum and agreed standards must be observed. In the National Assembly, that standard is the National Assembly Act."

Before the plenary session, the floor leaders of both ruling and opposition parties met in the Speaker's office under Speaker Woo's chairmanship but failed to reach an agreement. The People Power Party proposed a mediation plan in which the Democratic Party would receive the Steering Committee and the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee chairmanships in exchange for the People Power Party taking the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship, but the Democratic Party rejected it. Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "We proposed a negotiation plan after much consideration until the last moment, but the Democratic Party has consistently insisted on seizing the Legislation, Steering, and Science and Technology Committees to shield Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung from judicial risks."

The Democratic Party insisted on promptly forming the committees in accordance with the National Assembly Act. Floor leader Park said at the Supreme Council meeting that day, "No matter how much the illegal no-work forces try to stop us from working, the National Assembly must comply with the law and follow the people's orders." On the other hand, the People Power Party criticized the Democratic Party's monopoly of the standing committees through a rally at the National Assembly Rotunda Hall. At the Rotunda rally, floor leader Choo said, "Today, both the Democratic Party and the National Assembly have fallen into a one-man dictatorship under Lee Jae-myung," and added, "From now on, all kinds of party-interest-driven bad laws for Lee will be unilaterally passed in the National Assembly." He continued, "I express deep regret to Speaker Woo," and criticized, "It is common sense that the second-largest party gets the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and the ruling party gets the Steering Committee."

Attention is focused on whether the Democratic Party will also monopolize the eight standing committee chairmanships allocated to the ruling party in the future. Yoon Jong-gun, Democratic Party floor spokesperson, responded to the question, "Are you considering processing the seven standing committee chairmanships within this week?" by saying, "The plenary session is scheduled for Thursday, the 13th," and added, "It would be best if everything could be done today, but we will make sure it is done within this week without delay."