The Democratic Party of Korea said it would seek to place key livelihood and industry bills, including the "special act on semiconductors," the "Banking Act," and the "Franchise Business Act," which were designated as fast-track items in Apr., on the National Assembly plenary agenda. As the review period of the relevant standing committees ends this day, the party plans to proceed swiftly with the legislative process as soon as the plenary schedule is set.
Park Soo-hyun, the Democratic Party spokesperson, met with reporters after the supreme council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 13th and said, "The livelihood bills designated for the fast track in Apr. are scheduled to be automatically referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 14th," adding, "We will push to bring the livelihood bills, which the related industries have been desperately awaiting, to the plenary."
On Apr. 17, the Democratic Party designated three bills for the fast track: the establishment bill for the special act on semiconductors, the amendment to the Banking Act, and the amendment to the Franchise Business Act. Under the fast-track procedure, it takes up to 330 days: 180 days at the relevant standing committee, 90 days at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and 60 days after being placed on the plenary agenda. Accordingly, if the ruling and opposition parties do not reach an agreement, the earliest the bills can be put on the plenary agenda is Mar. 13 next year. As the standing committee deliberation period has ended, the Democratic Party says it will promptly push for review by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and placement on the plenary agenda.
The "special act on semiconductors" centers on enhancing the competitiveness of Korea's semiconductor industry by expanding state support. However, the exception clause for working hours (52-hour workweek) for core research and development (R&D) personnel, which had been a key sticking point, was excluded from the fast-tracked bill. The amendment to the "Banking Act" would exclude statutory levies from the calculation of additional charge rates to ease consumer burdens, and the "Franchise Business Act" would strengthen the registration and bargaining rights of franchisee organizations to reduce unfair transactions.
The ruling and opposition parties will hold a meeting of floor leaders in the afternoon, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, to finalize whether to convene a plenary session on the 15th. However, the People Power Party opposes, saying, "There is no precedent for opening a plenary session during the audit of government affairs, and the special prosecutor bill, which the Democratic Party broke off, must be agreed on first." As a result, observers say the likelihood of a plenary session this week is not high.
Park said, "I hope a plenary session will be held swiftly this week," urging, "Six months have been wasted due to the People Power Party's opposition. The People Power Party must quickly cooperate to convene the plenary so that livelihood bills can be handled."