It will be a bad precedent to pass a contentious bill opposed by the opposition party to a standing committee led by the ruling party.
Quick Look
- People Power Party lawmakers criticized the government and ruling party's attempt to transfer the Mega Special Zone Special Act to the Political Affairs Committee rather than the Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Venture Business Committee, calling it a 'standing committee shopping trick' and urged its immediate withdrawal.
- They emphasized that the bill should be dealt with in depth by the relevant standing committee as it is a major issue that will determine the future of the country's key industries, and warned that if the opposition opposition party makes it difficult to process the bill, there may be a practice of moving it to the standing committee of the ruling party chairman.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
People Power Party lawmakers criticized the attempt to transfer the Mega Special Zone Special Act to the Political Affairs Committee and defined it as shopping to the standing committee. They said that the bill is an important issue that will determine the future of the country's core industries and emphasized review by the relevant standing committee.
It will be a bad precedent to pass a contentious bill opposed by the opposition party to a standing committee led by the ruling party.
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jo Daun = On the 7th, People Power Party members of the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, Small and Medium Venture Business Committee protested against the government and ruling party, which announced that they would handle the 'Mega Special Zone Special Act (draft)' in the Political Affairs Committee, saying, "Immediately withdraw the standing committee shopping trick."
People Power Party members Kim Seong-won, chairman of the Industrial and Economic Affairs Committee, and lawmakers Kim Do-eup, Yoon Han-hong, Koo Ja-geun, Park Seong-min, Seo Ji-young, Woo Jae-jun, Cho Ji-yeon, and Choi Su-jin held a press conference at the National Assembly on this day and said, "The transfer of the special law to the Political Affairs Committee is a self-destructive act that undermines the foundation of the National Assembly's legislative authority and a cowardly trick to deceive the people."
They pointed out, "The actual reason for the attempt to refer the matter to the Political Affairs Committee is that the chairman of the Industrial and Self-Government Committee belongs to the People Power Party. In other words, it is clear that this is blatant standing committee shopping that diverts the agenda from the standing committee chaired by the opposition party to the standing committee chaired by the party's chairman," adding, "It is an act that degrades the legislative process into a tool for party strategy."
People Power Party lawmakers emphasized, “Special laws are important legislative issues that will determine the future of the country’s core industries,” and “These bills must undergo in-depth review by the relevant standing committee that has actually dealt with the industry.”
In particular, he warned, "This transfer attempt will not be a one-off. If it is difficult to deliberate and pass the controversial bill due to the opposition party's opposition, it will be a bad precedent to transfer the bill to the ruling party chairman's standing committee."
At the same time, he said, "The Speaker of the National Assembly must make decisions in accordance with political neutrality so that the principles of the relevant standing committee are not politically undermined in accordance with the purpose of the National Assembly Act. The People Power Party will not sit idly by and respond actively at the party level to attempts to 'shop the standing committee'."
Previously, the Democratic Party of Korea and the government announced at the party-government council held on the 4th that they would propose the Mega Special Zone Special Act as legislation by members of the Political Affairs Committee this month and pass it within the year.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Speaker of the National Assembly will make a decision to uphold the principles of the relevant standing committee.
Possible · Within days
If the ruling party's attempts to shop at the standing committee continue, the response at the party level will be strengthened.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Whether the attempt to transfer the Political Affairs Committee will actually take place
- What decision will the Speaker of the National Assembly make?
- Whether there will be further changes in the ruling party's legislative strategy
