Jung Chungrae Cancels Final Role as Judiciary Committee Chair: "No Committee Meeting on the 25th"

"Announces Postponement Based on Party Leadership's Decision via Social Media"
"Trusts the Next Chairperson Will Perform Well"
Outlook for Handling Commercial Act and Other Bills Also Delayed

Jung Chungrae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, announced that the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's plenary session scheduled for the 25th will not be held. This decision follows a request from the party leadership to postpone the session.

On this day, Jung stated via social media, "I was informed that it would be best to postpone the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's plenary session that was scheduled for Wednesday (the 25th) after discussions with the party leadership," adding, "The session will not be held in accordance with the political judgment of the party leadership." He continued, "I trust that the next chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee will do a good job."

Jung Chungrae, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Photo by Hyunmin Kim

In another social media post, he expressed his gratitude, saying, "I thank the citizens and party members who have passionately supported the Legislation and Judiciary Committee thus far."

Previously, on the 21st, Jung stated, "My resignation has not yet been processed (by a plenary session resolution), so I am still serving as the chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee," and added, "After consulting with the floor leader, I intend to convene the committee during the week. There are urgent issues and bills that need to be addressed." There was speculation that the bills Jung referred to included amendments to the Commercial Act, such as expanding directors' fiduciary duties to shareholders and making electronic general meetings of shareholders mandatory.

After Jung, who had already expressed his intention to resign, indicated that he might convene the committee, the People Power Party objected. Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized the move the previous day, saying, "When a politician says they will resign, they should resign. It seems as if he intends to continue until the administrative process is completed, like a government official, which is difficult to understand."