People Power Party Holds Consecutive Party Meetings and Special Committee Sessions
Effectively Replacing Standing Committees... Fundamental Solutions Remain Difficult
The People Power Party is refusing to participate in the National Assembly schedule and holding a party caucus in response to the Democratic Party of Korea's unilateral election of standing committee chairpersons, while simultaneously operating special committees on various economic and social sectors. However, as the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties prolongs, the path to resolving legislative issues has become uncertain, leading to increasing fatigue among members of the People Power Party.
On the 14th at 10 a.m., the People Power Party held a "Restoration of Parliamentary Politics Party Caucus" at the National Assembly in Yeouido and received a briefing on North Korea policy direction from Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho. This marked the fifth consecutive day the People Power Party held a party caucus. At the caucus held the previous day, they received a report from Choi Nam-ho, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, on the progress and plans for developing the East Sea deep-sea gas field.
After the Democratic Party of Korea took 11 standing committee chair positions, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the Steering Committee, and the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, the People Power Party has not appointed the seven standing committee chairs allocated to the ruling party and has been convening party caucuses to receive separate reports from the government.
On the 5th, when the first plenary session of the 22nd National Assembly was held, members of the People Power Party held a protest rally at the entrance of the plenary hall, saying, "The Democratic Party should stop unilateral parliamentary dominance without agreement." Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
Additionally, with the standing committees effectively paralyzed, the People Power Party is engaging in "special committee politics" through special committees in 15 areas including the economy and society. Although a minority party, as the ruling party, the People Power Party aims to work with the government to resolve pressing public issues. On this day as well, the People Power Party held the first meeting of the Climate Crisis Special Committee and planned a site visit to Dorimcheon for flood response. The Medical Reform Special Committee also met with Im Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Medical Association, in the afternoon, effectively substituting for the functions of the standing committees.
The Climate Crisis Special Committee, held simultaneously with the party caucus, was attended by ruling party lawmakers including Special Committee Chair Im I-ja, Environment Minister Han Hwa-jin, and Kim Sang-hyup, chairman of the Presidential 2050 Carbon Neutral Green Growth Committee (Carbon Neutrality Committee), among other party and government officials. Chair Im stated, "We will promptly revise the Carbon Neutrality Basic Act and subordinate laws, as well as incomplete regulations, together with the relevant ministries to facilitate the transition to a carbon-neutral society," adding, "We will ensure that all government ministries actively respond to the climate crisis, which is a problem connected in a comprehensive manner."
The majority within the party holds the position that the fight against the major opposition party must continue. However, since the National Assembly must return to normal functioning for fundamental solutions such as legislation and amendments, some voices are calling for finding a compromise. They argue that there are limits to the government and ruling party preparing policies through revisions of enforcement decrees.
Moreover, some first-term lawmakers are expressing feelings of helplessness due to the paralysis of the National Assembly. A first-term member of the People Power Party said, "While the opposition to the opposition party's unilateral formation of standing committees remains, the prolonged disruption will ultimately harm the people," adding, "I became a lawmaker to try to do something for the people, but it is frustrating to be unable to do anything." Another first-term lawmaker stated, "We are currently gathering various opinions on how the general public perceives the main causes of the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties, such as the organization of the National Assembly and the People Power Party's response."
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