Government and Opposition Party Held Policy Coordination Committee for First Time

The government and the Grand National Party is to hold a policy coordination committee to discuss the alleviation of chebol restrictions and the cancellation of 30 group designation in the GNP Headquarters on Nov. 21.

Jin Nyum, Finance and Economy Minister, and Lee Nam-Gi, Commissioner of Fair Trade Union, from the government and the lawmakers of the Political Affairs Committee and the Finance and Economy Committee including Kim Man-Jae, chairperson of policy committee, and Park Ju-Cheon, chairperson of political affairs committee, from the Grand National Party, will participate in the committee.

It is exceptional that the government and the opposition party openly discuss the bill presented to the National Assembly, expecting a great change of the national administration led by the government and the ruling party. It also portrays a new paradigm in relationship between the government and the National Assembly after the resignation of President.

Policy committee chairperson Kim explained yesterday, "Vice Prime Minister Jin proposed for a government and opposition party policy committee the other day but GNP refused it at that time. However, as a majority of the Congress, GNP accepted the suggestion to provide some alternative ways."

He also added, "the committee will discuss the measures to promote the investment of business including the abrogation of the 30 group designation and move for the legislation during the general session of the National Assembly. GNP will also request to abolish numerous exceptions that had been set to simply the convenience of administration."

He commented that the policy committee with the two parties and the government will have too many participants to discuss effectively and that it could be discussing only issues raised by the government and the ruling party. And he continued, "after the end of this policy committee, GNP will review the measures to promote the government and opposition policy committee."

Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com