Ruling and Opposition Parties to Hold Plenary Sessions on 26th and 31st... First Meeting of Ruling-Opposition-Administration Council Also on 26th

Meeting of floor leaders mediated by National Assembly Speaker
Democratic Party "Additional plenary session dates need to be set"
Working-level talks of consultative body start from the 23rd

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to hold plenary sessions on the 26th and 31st of this month. The ruling-opposition-government consultative body, which had been in conflict over its composition, will also hold its first meeting on the 26th.

Kwon Seong-dong, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, and Park Chan-dae, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, met on the 23rd at the National Assembly under the chairmanship of Speaker Woo Won-sik and decided accordingly, according to chief floor representatives Park Hyung-soo and Park Seong-jun of the two parties.

Yonhap News

However, the Democratic Party expressed the position that additional plenary sessions need to be scheduled. The Democratic Party stated that it would hold the National Assembly Steering Committee alone if necessary to schedule more plenary sessions. Park Seong-jun, Chief Floor Representative of the Democratic Party, said, "The opposition party's position is that the National Assembly should always hold a standing session," adding, "We believe plenary sessions should be held on the 26th, 27th, 30th, 31st, and January 2nd and 3rd." He further explained, "On the 26th, the most important matter is to process the consent for the appointment of Constitutional Court justices, and the 27th, 30th, and 31st are the same for Supreme Court justices." The Democratic Party also emphasized the need to hold government questioning sessions in early next month.

However, the People Power Party does not see the need for additional plenary sessions for government questioning and other matters. Park Hyung-soo, Chief Floor Representative of the People Power Party, rebutted, "In the past week, we have conducted urgent issue inquiries similar to government questioning," adding, "We need to focus on passing livelihood bills before the end of the year." The People Power Party also plans not to attend the Steering Committee meeting that the Democratic Party will hold alone that afternoon.

The first meeting date of the ruling-opposition-government consultative body, launched to resolve the political turmoil during the impeachment phase, was also set for the 26th. Regarding the previously controversial issue of the consultative body's composition, it was decided according to the mediation proposal presented by Speaker Woo Won-sik that the party leaders of both parties will participate in the first meeting, and from then on, the floor leaders will practically participate and conduct the meetings. Since the People Power Party is scheduled to elect an emergency committee chairman on the 24th, there is a possibility that Acting Leader Kwon may not attend. Park Seong-jun, Chief Floor Representative, said, "On the 26th, it seems that the ruling and opposition party leaders, the Speaker, and the Acting Leader will attend," adding, "We will prepare today and tomorrow and coordinate in working-level consultations." However, the specific agenda to be discussed by the consultative body has not yet been decided. Park said, "The agenda and scope of attendance will be discussed and decided through the activation of the working-level consultation meeting."

The special committee for the internal affairs state investigation requested by Speaker Woo is also expected to be formed soon. Although the People Power Party did not submit the list of members despite Speaker Woo's request, they expressed willingness to participate on this day. Park, Chief Floor Representative, said, "The People Power Party will hold a party meeting by tomorrow to discuss and submit the list for the state investigation."