Parties Set Economy and Public Welfare as Top Priorities

Uri Party Chairman Chung Dong-young and Grand National Party Representative Park Geun-hye reached an agreement yesterday on the three principles of the 17th parliamentary session: making people’s livelihood and economy a priority, disavowing corrupt politics and focusing on parliamentary-oriented politics during their first official meeting prior to the opening of the National assembly. They also agreed on five crucial needs that need to be addressed, including the sluggish economy and creating more jobs.

The two party leaders wrapped up their meeting by making a joint accord for developing new politics and economy. The reason why the two leaders made an announcement as a form of an accord instead of a joint statement or agreement is for imposing a political binding. Accord-making between the two rival parties is a first ever since the party system was established in Korea.

Chung and Park said they would establish five separate standing committees on regulation reform, creating more jobs and others and go ahead measures positively with the enactment of special laws on encouraging conventional markets.

They also agreed to unconditionally accept the proposal on electoral district demarcation when the special committee on demarcation of electoral districts finishes its work in two years before the next parliamentary elections.

Regarding political reforms, the two leaders decided to adopt a property trust system that makes lawmakers and high-ranking officials entrust their property management with separate trust companies during their tenures and positively push for the establishment of laws to send illegal political funds to state coffers.

For this, they decided to pursue legislation on political reform measures, forming a parliamentary reform panel while at the same time opening the 17th parliament and positively considering introducing laws that allow the public to recall elected officials including lawmakers.

Chung and Park also decided to establish a parliamentary reform panel to deal with matters including organizing the Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Account permanently with the aim of a “working parliament.”

In the meantime, the two leaders agreed to go beyond partisan differences to cooperate in tackling inter-Korean and diplomatic issues and establishing a special committee on improving inter-Korean relations to intensively discuss pending issues.

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com