Chief party policymakers agree on regular meetings

Rep. Lee Hae-Chan, chief policymaker of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, and his Grand National Party counterpart, Mok Yo-Sang, held talks Wednesday and agreed to hold weekly inter-party policy meetings.

The two bipartisan chief policymakers also concurred on the attendance of related Cabinet members at the inter-party policy meetings, the holding of joint debate sessions and public hearings, occasional policymakers' meetings and their working-level talks. In line with the accords, the two parties will hold the first policy consultation meeting Oct. 13 and deal with crucial bills concerning the injection of public funds and financing, as well as corporate and financial restructuring.

The ruling and opposition parties plan to activate the bipartisan policy consultation committee based on the mutual agreement reached at the second round of talks Sept. 10. They aim to handle a total of 51 legislative programs, including the human rights bill, communication secret protection bill, real name financial transaction bill, financial laundering bill, police bill and national pension bill.

Yoon Young-Chan yyc11@donga.com