Choo Kyung-ho Proposes to Democratic Party, "Let's Alternate Operation and Legislation Committees Annually"

Choo "In the 2nd year, please return to the People Power Party"
Proposes taking turns serving one year each
Also files a constitutional complaint over the standing committee formation with the Constitutional Court

On the 19th, Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, proposed alternating the chairmanship of the Steering Committee and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, two of the 11 standing committees solely formed by the Democratic Party of Korea, on a yearly basis.

Chu Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Choo told reporters at the National Assembly main building that "Since the Steering Committee has been continuously chaired by the ruling party since 1987, we requested that it be returned to the ruling party in respect of that precedent, but we received a response that it was practically difficult," adding, "We propose that the Democratic Party chair the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Steering Committee for one year, and then return them to the People Power Party in the second year." He continued, "I publicly propose the idea of alternating the chairmanships every year in sequence."

Earlier, on the 10th, the Democratic Party had unilaterally elected the chairpersons of the 11 standing committees. Traditionally, when the ruling party holds the Speaker position, the second-largest party chairs the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and the ruling party chairs the Steering Committee. However, the Democratic Party took all the chair positions of the relevant standing committees. The People Power Party demanded the return of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the Steering Committee, but the Democratic Party refused, stating that maintaining those chair positions was inevitable to enforce the special prosecutor law and to check the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

Choo said, "This is a compromise proposal for the normalization of the National Assembly," and added, "The largest opposition party, which is the first party, should seriously consider this sincere revised compromise proposal." However, it is uncertain whether the Democratic Party will accept the proposal.

The People Power Party also filed a constitutional dispute adjudication with the Constitutional Court the day before regarding the formation of the standing committees. They claim that Speaker Woo Won-shik’s forced assignment of standing committees and the unilateral election of committee chairpersons are invalid. Four years ago, in early 2020 during the 21st National Assembly, the People Power Party also filed a constitutional dispute adjudication against Speaker Park Byeong-seok, who was from the Democratic Party at the time, over forced committee assignments, but the case was dismissed.