Ruling and Opposition Parties Agree to Pass Non-Controversial Bills Including Gu Hara Act and Nursing Act in August National Assembly

Disagreement on Forming the Ye·Ya·Jeong Livelihood Council... Further Discussion Needed
Park Seong-jun "Adjustment Needed as Jeonse Fraud Special Act Remains a Controversy"

The People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea have agreed to pass non-controversial livelihood bills such as the Gu Hara Act (Civil Code amendment) and the Nursing Act during the August National Assembly session. However, there were some disagreements regarding the formation of the ruling-opposition-government livelihood consultative body, so it was decided to discuss it further.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, Bae Jun-young, the senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, and Park Sung-joon, the senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party, held working-level negotiations at the National Assembly to form the ruling-opposition-government livelihood consultative body and reached an agreement on this matter. After the negotiations, Deputy Floor Leader Bae told reporters, "There were disagreements regarding the formation of the ruling-opposition-government livelihood consultative body, but there were also agreements. We agreed to handle non-controversial and essential bills during the remaining August plenary sessions." He added, "Although there are disagreements regarding the consultative body, we will go through a more deliberative and consultative process."

Deputy Floor Leader Park explained, "The People Power Party is actively pushing for bills like the Gu Hara Act and the Nursing Act. Such bills can be sufficiently agreed upon and passed by both parties, but the Special Act on Jeonse Fraud still seems to have outstanding issues that need adjustment."

The Democratic Party demanded a change from President Yoon Seok-yeol as a condition for forming the ruling-opposition-government livelihood consultative body proposed by the ruling party. Deputy Floor Leader Park emphasized, "Bills without controversy can be passed at any time. However, the prerequisite for forming the consultative body is that President Yoon must change the government’s policy direction and demonstrate leadership in overcoming the national crisis." He added, "The biggest problem in the current government dysfunction and inter-party issues is President Yoon’s leadership. This will be achieved when President Yoon shows genuine commitment to overcoming the national crisis. Can the ruling and opposition parties truly develop if the president keeps exercising the veto power on all bills?"

In response, Deputy Floor Leader Bae said, "We actually thought that the working-level ruling-opposition-government livelihood consultative body should be formed unconditionally. Despite conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties over special investigations and impeachment in the National Assembly, there are citizens who are earnestly waiting for the bills that we must pass." He added, "Therefore, the People Power Party’s intention was to create the ruling-opposition-government livelihood consultative body without any conditions and to promptly handle what can be processed."