The Democratic Party of Korea decided to take 11 standing committee chairmanships, including the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, despite opposition from the People Power Party. The ruling and opposition parties negotiated until late afternoon, delaying the plenary session schedule in an attempt to reach an agreement on the second-half legislative setup, but failed to find common ground and remained deadlocked. The People Power Party strongly protested the Democratic Party's plan to take the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair, calling it "an attempt to withdraw the indictment of President Lee Jae-myung."
Ahead of the National Assembly plenary session Monday, the Democratic Party concluded through its floor strategy meeting and a general assembly of lawmakers that it would take 11 of the 18 standing committee chairs, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (Rep. Suh Young-kyo), the Government Administration Committee (Rep. Yoo Dong-soo), the Finance and Economic Planning Committee (Rep. Cho Seung-rae), and the Steering Committee (Rep. Han Byung-do). The party also considered taking all 18 standing committee chairs, but, taking into account negative public opinion, decided to first confirm the Democratic Party's share according to the seat ratio.
The chairs of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee and the National Defense Committee will be held by Rep. Song Ki-hun and Rep. Jin Sung-joon, respectively. Rep. Kim Young-jin, Rep. Lee Jae-jung, and Rep. Kim Jung-ho were named to the chairs of the Public Administration and Security Committee, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, and the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, respectively. The chairs of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee (Rep. Suh Sam-suk) and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts (Rep. Lee Kwang-jae) were also filled as the Democratic Party's share.
The ruling and opposition parties held relay negotiations over the committee allocation that day but failed to find common ground. In the process, the plenary session, scheduled for 2 p.m., was repeatedly pushed back, with its opening delayed until late afternoon. The Democratic Party decided not to appoint chairs at that day's plenary session for the seven standing committees designated as the People Power Party's share, and to continue further consultations.
The Democratic Party has maintained that it must hold the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair to ensure the swift passage of livelihood and reform bills, while the opposition has insisted it must hold the chair to check the ruling party, which holds the legislative initiative. The Legislation and Judiciary Committee effectively functions as an "upper house," as it is responsible for reviewing the structure and wording of all bills that pass through the various standing committees. It is also a key committee that directly handles the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, including the abolition of supplementary investigation rights that the Democratic Party is pursuing as part of prosecution reform, as well as the special counsel bill on fabricated indictments under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.
The People Power Party sharpened its criticism, calling it the "legislative steamrolling" of the dominant ruling party, and signaled a hardline party-level struggle. The party plans to escalate its parliamentary response, even considering a full boycott of the National Assembly's agenda, including standing committees. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, wrote on his social networking service (SNS): "President Lee's approval rating has crossed the dead cross, and the Democratic Party's approval rating is also plunging. The judgment of the people is not far off."
Meanwhile, the special personnel hearing committee for Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook approved the confirmation hearing report that day, led by the Democratic Party and other pro-government forces, with the People Power Party absent. The report is set to be approved at the National Assembly plenary session, led by pro-government forces. To be appointed, the Prime Minister's confirmation motion must pass the plenary session with a majority of registered lawmakers in attendance and a majority of those present voting in favor.
