The Democratic Party of Korea pushed through the selection of 11 standing committee chairs for the second half of the 22nd National Assembly on Monday, completing the chamber's committee structure on its own. The Democratic Party ultimately took the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, a position over which it had wrangled with the People Power Party until the final moments. The People Power Party did not participate in the vote to elect the chairs and strongly protested, saying it would not cooperate in operating the committees.
The National Assembly convened a plenary session that day and put to a vote the selection of 11 of the 18 standing committee chairs, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the House Steering Committee, the National Policy Committee, and the Finance and Economic Planning Committee. The People Power Party, the largest opposition party, fiercely protested that selecting committee chairs without agreement between the ruling and opposition parties amounted to "dictatorship," then declined to participate in the vote and walked out. A total of 167 members, including those from the Democratic Party, took part in the vote.
At the plenary session, 11 standing committee chairs from the Democratic Party were elected. Rep. Seo Young-kyo (four-term) was chosen as chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Rep. Yoo Dong-soo (three-term) as chair of the National Policy Committee, and Rep. Cho Seung-rae (three-term) as chair of the Finance and Economic Planning Committee. Rep. Song Ki-heon (three-term) was elected chair of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, Rep. Jin Sung-joon (three-term) chair of the National Defense Committee, Rep. Kim Young-jin (three-term) chair of the Public Administration and Security Committee, and Rep. Lee Jae-jung (three-term) chair of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee.
Rep. Seo Sam-seok (three-term) was elected chair of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, Rep. Kim Jung-ho (three-term) chair of the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, and Rep. Lee Kwang-jae (four-term) chair of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. Rep. Han Byung-do (three-term), who serves as floor leader, was chosen as chair of the House Steering Committee.
The floor leadership of both parties, including Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do and People Power Party floor leader Chung Jum-sik, met several times that day to continue negotiations on the committee structure and sought common ground, but ultimately failed. The biggest point of contention was which party would take the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
"Legislation for state affairs tasks to complete the achievements of the Lee Jae-myung government awaits us, and people's livelihood legislation has piled up," Han said at a party caucus that day. "Starting tomorrow, we must immediately convene each standing committee, finalize the appointment of secretaries and the establishment of subcommittees, and enter into a legislative battle." This is interpreted as a determination to accelerate the legislation needed to support the second year of the Lee Jae-myung government's administration.
In response to the ruling party's claims, Chung said, "Forming the committee structure is the basics of the National Assembly, but how could a ruling party that decides even this behind closed doors without agreement create bills that help the people through proper debate and deliberation?" Through a media notice, the People Power Party said, "Speaker Cho forcibly appointed and notified members to the 11 committees," and added, "We have submitted official documents on the 'resignation of members' forcibly appointed to each committee to the Assembly's legislative affairs division."
In addition, at the plenary session that day, the motion to consent to the appointment of Prime Minister nominee Han Sung-sook passed amid the People Power Party's absence from the vote. Han will take office as the second prime minister of the Lee Jae-myung government and the 50th prime minister, 23 days after being nominated by President Lee Jae-myung on the 7th.
