The Democratic Party is holding a workshop for its lawmakers to share its state affairs approach for the second year in power and review its legislative strategy for the latter half of the National Assembly's term. Not only Democratic Party lawmakers but also key government figures, including Prime Minister Han Sung-sook and Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, are attending in large numbers to seek ways to cooperate between the party and the government.
According to the Democratic Party on Wednesday, the party is holding the workshop to prepare for the latter half of the National Assembly's term at a hotel in Seoul's Yongsan district that afternoon. The workshop begins with opening remarks from Han Byung-do, acting party leader and floor leader, and Prime Minister Han Sung-sook. Prime Minister Han, who officially began her term on Tuesday, is attending an official party event for the first time and is expected to emphasize party-government cooperation and call for support in pursuing major state affairs tasks.
In the first session of the workshop, Chief of Staff Kang delivers an approximately one-hour lecture on "State Affairs Approach and Governance Plans for the Second Year in Power." He is set to share with lawmakers the key state affairs tasks pursued by the Lee Jae-myung administration and the future direction of governance, followed by a question-and-answer session to exchange views.
In the subsequent "Latter-Half National Assembly Operations" session, Cheon Jun-ho, senior deputy floor leader, explains the operating approach and floor strategy for the latter half of the term. Han Jeoung-ae, chair of the policy committee, plans to present the major legislative tasks for the second year in power. Ahead of this month's extraordinary session, the Democratic Party intends to review priorities for livelihood and reform legislation and discuss legislative strategies for each standing committee.
In the final session, cabinet members and lawmakers belonging to standing committees hold group discussions to seek ways for party-government cooperation. As a venue to review issues by standing committee and share legislative plans, major contentious bills are expected to be placed on the table, including a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act that will decide whether prosecutors retain supplementary investigation authority. The Democratic Party wraps up the workshop with a dinner after announcing the results of the group discussions.
As this workshop is held about a month ahead of the party convention on Aug. 17, it may also become a stage for the next party leadership contest. Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, former party leader Jung Chung-rae, and Rep. Song Young-gil, all contenders for the next party leadership, are attending and are expected to vie for the initiative over the latter-half National Assembly operations and state affairs tasks for the second year in power.
