The ruling and opposition parties are running parallel over forming the leadership for the second half of the 22nd National Assembly. The Democratic Party of Korea and People Power Party are locked in a no-compromise standoff over The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
It is said that the ranking of standing committees preferred by lawmakers has shifted in this formation of the leadership. More lawmakers reportedly flocked to the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee (Gienowi) than in the first half. Heavyweight lawmakers from both parties, including former party leaders and former standing committee chairs in the first half of the Assembly, are known to have applied to Gienowi.
Gienowi is a standing committee created midterm in the 22nd National Assembly with the launch of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. The reason Gienowi is gaining popularity in this second half, it is said, is because it took over the "energy" portfolio that had been under the Trade. Industry Energy. SMEs. and Startups Committee. Previously, when Gienowi was the Environment and Labor Committee (Hwanno Committee), whose main work was labor and environment, it was never considered a popular standing committee.
In political circles, some said, "Because the consolidation of state-run power generation companies and the transfer of the unified headquarters are on the agenda in this second half, lawmakers are especially flocking to Gienowi."
The government is pushing to consolidate the five state-run power generation companies under Korea Electric Power Corporation. The five power generation companies have their headquarters split among South Gyeongsang, South Chungcheong, Busan and Ulsan. For now, only the broad principle of integrating the five companies into one has been set, and no specific integration plan has been presented. It has not been decided where to place the unified headquarters or how to handle the five existing separate headquarters. Regions that have hosted individual headquarters and regions keen to attract the unified headquarters have no choice but to pay close attention. Full-fledged discussions are expected to proceed in Gienowi.
A National Assembly official said, "From the perspective of district lawmakers, if they bring in the unified headquarters of the power generation companies or keep the current headquarters in place, they are likely to be viewed favorably by voters in the next general election," adding, "With less than two years left until the general election, preference is growing for Gienowi, which offers good items."