Assemblywoman Kwon Hyangyeop Proposes "All-Member Committee Activation Act"

Lowering the Threshold for Convening and Allowing Subcommittees: Amendment to the National Assembly Act Proposed
Kwon: "Revitalizing the All-Member Committee System to Promote Deliberative Democracy"

Assemblywoman Hyangyeop Kwon of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, and Gurye in South Jeolla Province) announced on January 6 that she had sponsored the "All-Member Committee Activation Act" (partial amendment to the National Assembly Act) aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the All-Member Committee system.

Under the current law, an All-Member Committee may be convened for major legislative bills-such as those concerning government organization, taxation, or imposing burdens on citizens-if at least one-quarter of the total members of the National Assembly request it, either after committee review or for bills proposed by a committee.

Hyangyeop Kwon, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Although the All-Member Committee was designed to allow all lawmakers to engage in in-depth discussions on important issues and to supplement the standing committee-centered operation of the National Assembly, it has only been convened twice-in 2003 for the Iraq troop dispatch motion and in 2023 for electoral system reform. As a result, there have been ongoing criticisms regarding its extremely low utilization.

The proposed amendment seeks to activate the system by adding a requirement for approval by the National Assembly Steering Committee to convene an All-Member Committee, and by allowing the formation of subcommittees within the All-Member Committee to prepare revised bills.

Assemblywoman Kwon emphasized, "The All-Member Committee, which is intended for responsible deliberation by all lawmakers, has become virtually obsolete," adding, "We must revitalize the All-Member Committee so that it functions as a genuine forum for substantive deliberation and coordination, rather than as a nominal institution."