The Democratic Party of Korea is reviewing a plan to place the newly established Office for Government Policy Coordination's Planning and Budget Office, which will be created under the prime minister as part of a government reorganization taking effect in January next year, under the National Assembly's Operating Committee on a temporary basis, and then transfer it to the National Policy Committee after the review of next year's budget bill.
According to multiple ruling-bloc officials on the 17th, the Democratic Party held a meeting of senior members from each standing committee the previous day and discussed adjusting the names and functions of the standing committees under the National Assembly Act. This was to coordinate in advance the direction of amending the National Assembly Act ahead of handling revisions to the Government Organization Act that include abolishing the Prosecutors' Office and splitting the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
At the meeting, a plan was reported to first place the Planning and Budget Office under the Operating Committee's jurisdiction and then hand it over to the National Policy Committee after the budget review. A lawmaker who attended the meeting said, "Since the Planning and Budget Office is under the Prime Minister's Office, it is reasonable for it to fall under the National Policy Committee," while adding, "Because the budget review is still pending, a plan was raised to have the Operating Committee handle it temporarily." The explanation was that, with the National Policy Committee currently chaired by Rep. Yoon Han-hong of the People Power Party, this was a measure taken in consideration of the possibility that the budget review might not proceed smoothly.
Discussions were also held on changing the names of standing committees. In line with the government reorganization, options reportedly discussed included changing the Environment and Labor Committee to "Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee," the Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee to "Broadcasting, Media and Communications Committee," the Gender Equality and Family Committee to "Gender Equality and Family Committee," and the Strategy and Finance Committee to "Finance and Economy Committee."
Specific directions for amending the National Assembly Act, such as adjusting the agencies and duties under each standing committee's jurisdiction, are expected to be discussed after the Government Organization Act revision is handled on the 25th. A Democratic Party floor official said, "At present, the reorganization plan is only at the proposal stage, and the allocation of members to standing committees or the scope of duties will need further discussion."