Yellow Envelope Act Passes Environment and Labor Subcommittee of Employment and Labor Committee with Opposition Party's Sole Support (Update)

People Power Party "Schedule Was Not Properly Announced" Protest
Passage in Plenary Session Fails... Referred to Agenda Adjustment Committee

Democratic Party lawmakers unilaterally passed the 'Amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act (Yellow Envelope Act)' at the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee's Employment and Labor Law Review Subcommittee. Kim Hyung-dong, the ruling party's floor leader, along with lawmakers from the People Power Party, requested the formation of an agenda adjustment committee. The Environment and Labor Committee referred the Yellow Envelope Act to the agenda adjustment committee and then adjourned.

On the 16th, the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee completed a full meeting related to personnel hearings at 10 a.m. and planned to hold the review subcommittee at 11 a.m. to discuss the Yellow Envelope Act proposed by opposition lawmakers. However, around 10:40 a.m., An Ho-young, the Democratic Party chairman of the committee, suspended the full meeting and called to open the review subcommittee, causing a brief disruption. People Power Party lawmakers left the room but later attended the review subcommittee. Floor leader Kim said, "Is it normal to schedule something like this without prior notice and in such a short time?" and added, "Today is really absurd."

On the morning of the 16th, the Subcommittee on Employment and Labor Law Review is being held at the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Yong-woo said, "I seriously question how long this delaying tactic of wasting time will continue," and added, "Please stop inefficient discussions that reject everything unconditionally and swiftly pass the law."

The review subcommittee switched to a closed session, and around 11:30 a.m., People Power Party lawmakers protested and left the meeting room, after which the remaining Democratic Party lawmakers passed the Yellow Envelope Act in the subcommittee. People Power Party lawmaker Woo Jae-joon told Asia Economy, "The schedule for the review subcommittee was suddenly notified at 6 p.m. yesterday," and said, "The review subcommittee is supposed to be for substantive meetings, but the Democratic Party seems to be just trying to create a facade." He added, "Since the schedule was notified late, we asked for just one more day, but it was not accepted."