Jung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said the ruling Democratic Party would take the chairpersonships of all standing committees in the second half of the 22nd National Assembly. After President Lee Jae-myung directly criticized the National Policy Committee, which has an opposition chairperson, at a recent Cabinet meeting, the ruling party leader signaled "100% ruling party chairpersons."
At a general meeting of lawmakers at the National Assembly on the 22nd, Jung said, "With the Middle East crisis putting the livelihood economy in difficulty, instead of cooperating, they are hobbling state affairs," adding, "Our principle is that the hardworking Democratic Party will take 100% of the chairpersons in the second half and take responsibility."
He continued, "Livelihood bills to be handled are piled up, but committees where the People Power Party holds the chairperson are not operating," adding, "Since the People Power Party likes the United States, we should also do it the American way. In the United States, the party with even one more seat monopolizes all standing committee chairpersons." He also said, "Even if we have to do that, we must respond swiftly to the increasingly complex international order," adding, "If we miss the golden time, the damage to the people will be too serious."
He also said that although the June 3 local elections are approaching, the ruling party would proceed without exception with the primary procedures to elect the National Assembly speaker and deputy speakers for forming the original structure of the second-half Assembly.
Earlier, on the 17th, the president said at a Cabinet meeting that a Commercial Act amendment to revitalize the stock market and legislation to support the shipbuilding, defense, and nuclear power industries should be handled swiftly, adding, "The National Policy Committee has an opposition chairperson, so it can't do anything. This is a real problem." The current National Policy Committee chairperson is Yoon Han-hong, a lawmaker from the People Power Party.
The president said related bills were not being properly handled at the National Policy Committee, the competent standing committee, adding, "This is such an important time, and while there may be nothing we can do, it seems extremely unfair." He then told aides, "It seems they are not even convening the standing committee, so go to the National Assembly and, even if you have to beg, try to get something done." He also said, "Commercial Act or Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act amendments, especially in the financial sector, are truly serious and important, aren't they?"