The Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party wrapped up their lawmakers' workshop and training retreat, respectively, finishing preparations for the September regular session. The Democratic Party plans to steer the session with a focus on people's livelihoods while simultaneously pushing reform legislation on the judiciary and police. In contrast, the People Power Party is expected to criticize bills related to President Lee Jae-myung's trial and move to keep the government and ruling camp in check.
On the 28th, the rival parties concluded a one-night, two-day workshop and training retreat to prepare for the 2026 regular session. The workshop and retreat are routine events held before the session opens, where the parties set strategy for the session and review policies and issues.
The Democratic Party mapped out a plan to approach the session with a "people's livelihood–focused, practical line" and a "legislative speed battle." It will also pursue reforms of the judiciary and police. Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said in closing remarks at the workshop, "The outcome of this workshop is livelihoods, livelihoods, livelihoods," adding, "With people's livelihoods as the No. 1 lens, we will break through internal and external crises, and at this turning point toward a golden era, all of us standing here vowed and resolved to throw everything we have."
In the people's livelihood economy, real estate, capital markets, and the three mega projects are expected to be the main focus. Key issues in real estate include bills already sent to the floor such as the Yongsan Park Special Act and the Urban Regeneration Act, as well as plans to revise the real estate tax code and a bill to establish a real estate supervisory agency. For the three mega projects, in addition to a special act on designating and operating special zones, procedures remain to amend the Building Act and the Water Supply and Waterworks Installation Act, so related discussions are expected to continue.
In capital markets, attention should be paid to the so-called "stock price suppression prevention (amendment to the Inheritance and Gift Tax Act)" and reforms to individual savings accounts (ISA). The stock price suppression prevention bill, first proposed by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee So-young, would increase taxes if someone is caught deliberately lowering a stock price to reduce inheritance and gift taxes. The ISA is included in the latest tax reform plan in a direction that creates a domestically focused productive finance ISA.
The People Power Party will move to check the government by focusing on policies facing strong public opposition, such as real estate taxes and single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs). People Power Party Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sig said in closing remarks at the retreat, "Right now, Korea is facing a catastrophic situation in every area," adding, "Real estate prices in the Seoul metropolitan area are soaring, and the Blue House policy chief who pushed single-stock leveraged ETFs has not been held accountable."
Bills related to the president's trial are also targets of criticism. The party plans to define the Democratic Party's push for a "fabricated indictment special counsel act," the abolition of breach of trust, and judiciary-related bills as an attempt to "erase the president's trial" and to block them.
Jeong said, "The government's essential governing line right now is 'guaranteeing the president's safety after leaving office,' and the No. 1 state goal is 'the president's jailbreak,'" adding, "I have never seen a government like this one, which commits only mistakes, wrecks society as a whole, and runs amok solely for its own safety."