A special law for administrative integration of South Jeolla and Gwangju passed The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 24th. But the special laws for administrative integration of Daegu–North Gyeongsang and South Chungcheong–Daejeon were put on hold and effectively scrapped. A vote on the amendment to the Amnesty Act was also postponed.
The Democratic Party of Korea held a full session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee that day and handled the special law for administrative integration of South Jeolla and Gwangju. It passed with 11 in favor and 7 abstentions out of 18 present. People Power Party lawmakers did not raise their hands during the show-of-hands vote in a display of opposition.
The full session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee was scheduled to open at 10 a.m. that day, but it convened around noon as the ruling and opposition floor leaders met over the plenary agenda.
With the People Power Party fiercely opposing metropolitan administrative integration, Chairperson Choo Mi-ae of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee said South Jeolla and Gwangju, where local councils do not object, should be integrated first and the remaining regions handled later. Vice Minister Kim Min-jae of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety then said, "We will respect what the Legislation and Judiciary Committee decides," shifting the mood toward handling only South Jeolla and Gwangju.
The special law on integrating South Jeolla and Gwangju grants the new integrated special city a status comparable to Seoul Special City. It also provides large-scale special exceptions for national fiscal support and educational autonomy.
People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won said, "Is administrative integration something to be pushed through so hastily?" and argued, "Looking at the contents, only South Jeolla–Gwangju uniquely benefit, while South Chungcheong–Daejeon and Daegu–North Gyeongsang are discriminated against. It is the Democratic Party's one-party dictatorship."
A vote was also postponed on an amendment to the Amnesty Act that would ban pardoning former President Yoon Suk-yeol. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Ki-pyo said, "There are views that it may conflict with the president's constitutionally granted exclusive authority (the power to grant amnesty), and there are various opinions on the extent of any limits," adding, "As Yoon Suk-yeol, the ringleader of insurrection, has appealed and the appeals trial will proceed, floor leaders have requested that we deliberate further on this matter."
In response, Chairperson Choo Mi-ae said, "As we have been informed of the positions of the presidential office and the floor leadership that more prudent review is needed, we will table it at the full committee and continue deliberations."