The ruling and opposition parties agreed to hold a plenary session on July 5, after the June 3 local elections, to elect the leadership for the second half of the 22nd National Assembly. The allocation of National Assembly standing committee chairs, a key issue for the second half, will be discussed later.

Han Byung-do of the Democratic Party of Korea floor leader and Song Eon-seog of the People Power Party floor leader release an agreement on electing the National Assembly leadership at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 19th./Courtesy of News1

Floor leader Han Byung-do of the Democratic Party of Korea and floor leader Song Eon-seog of the People Power Party met reporters after meeting at the National Assembly on the 19th and announced the agreement. Earlier, the Democratic Party had pushed to hold the plenary session on the 20th, while the People Power Party had called for holding it after the local elections.

After releasing the agreement, floor leader Han told reporters, "The Democratic Party originally requested the 20th, but the People Power Party said it would not do it on the 20th, and campaigning begins on the 21st," adding, "The earliest we can handle it is early June after the local elections."

The term of National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik for the first half ends on the 29th. The candidates for the next leadership are Rep. Cho Jeong-sik of the Democratic Party for speaker, Rep. Nam In-soon of the Democratic Party for vice speaker, and Rep. Park Deok-heum of the People Power Party for vice speaker. If the plenary session is convened, up-or-down votes on these candidates will take place.

The allocation of standing committee chairs was not included in this agreement. The floor leaders of the two parties will continue discussions on the allocation going forward.

Floor leader Song said, "We sought to include language that the allocation of standing committee chairs for the second half would be handled by agreement between negotiation blocs, but it was left for continued discussion," adding, "We also tried to reflect in the agreement that only items agreed to between the ruling and opposition negotiation blocs, in accordance with the provisions and intent of the National Assembly Act, would be placed on the plenary agenda and handled, but the Democratic Party did not accept it."

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