Meeting of Ruling and Opposition Policy Chiefs 70 Days After Opening of 22nd National Assembly... Discussion on Livelihood Bills

Discussion on Current Issues Such as Heatwave and TimeF Measures
Start of Deliberations on Bills with Few Disagreements Including K-Chips Act Expected

As the 22nd National Assembly continues its extreme confrontation due to political strife, the policy chiefs of the ruling and opposition parties will meet for the first time in 70 days since the opening to discuss livelihood policies. This comes as a consensus has formed that the processing of economic and livelihood bills, which have been delayed due to the intense conflict between the parties, cannot be postponed any longer. In political circles, there are also voices hoping that discussions will begin sequentially on bills with fewer disagreements between the parties, leading to a thaw in the tense National Assembly situation.

Kim Sang-hoon, the Policy Chief of the People Power Party, will visit Jin Sung-jun, the Policy Chief of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the National Assembly at 10:30 a.m. on the same day. Since the start of the 22nd National Assembly, special investigations, impeachment, filibusters, and disruptions in standing committees have been repeated for over two months, causing a standstill in the processing of livelihood bills, making this meeting between the policy heads of the two parties significant.

This meeting implies a discussion on bills that urgently need to be processed for the livelihood of the people or bills on which there is not much difference in opinion. Earlier, Jin proposed at the party floor strategy meeting the previous morning, "Let's form a discussion table between the policy chiefs to open the way for urgent livelihood legislation and start negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties."

Kim also told Asia Economy in a phone interview on the same day, "I was appointed as the policy chief this time and said I would pay a courtesy visit. Although it is not yet the situation to discuss specific issues, I am thinking of proposing the priority processing of livelihood bills that both parties can accept."

Due to the ongoing heatwave, immediate consideration is being given to measures to reduce and support electricity bills for vulnerable groups during the severe heat period.

Kim Sang-hoon, Chairman of the People Power Party's Special Committee on Livelihood Economy Stabilization, is speaking at the 2nd plenary meeting of the Special Committee on Livelihood Economy Stabilization of the People Power Party held at the National Assembly on the 15th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Additionally, follow-up measures and prevention plans for the unpaid settlement funds incident involving Tmon and Wemakeprice (Timep) are also major issues. The government and ruling party held a party-government council at the National Assembly the previous day to discuss the Timep incident and subsequently announced measures including support for refund processing of general products, liquidity support of around 500 billion won for affected companies, and shortening the settlement deadline.

The Democratic Party has also formed a party-level task force (TF) related to the Timep incident and is pushing for the enactment of the Online Platform Act (Onple Act). At the same time, it has decided to consider holding a "Timep hearing" at the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee and pursuing a state audit.

Furthermore, bills with fewer disagreements such as the Nursing Act, Special Act on Jeonse Fraud, Special Act on High-Level Radioactive Waste Management, Civil Code Amendment (Goo Ha-ra Act), and Tax Incentive Limitation Act Amendment (K-Chips Act) are likely to be discussed for cooperation.

In political circles, there is an atmosphere of hope regarding the meeting of the policy chiefs and the discussion of livelihood bills. A first-term lawmaker said, "For the past 70 days, the processing of livelihood bills has been stalled due to prolonged political strife, leading to a sense of helplessness, so it is fortunate that the policy chiefs of the ruling and opposition parties are now meeting to discuss livelihood bills." He added, "I hope this meeting will create an atmosphere of competing through livelihood legislation and that politics will provide a sense of efficacy to the people."

[Image source=Yonhap News]