Ruling Party and Opposition Parties Stand Face To Face at National Assembly

The National Assembly held a plenary session on June 30, but the ruling Uri Party and the opposition parties were pitted against each other over a revision on the Governmental Organization Act, including a newly-established dual-vice minister system and a defense business office as its essential features.

On the same day, the ruling Uri Party and the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) co-submitted an amended bill, including a provision of new foundation of a defense business office that had been excluded in the process of discussing in the Government Administration and Local Autonomy Committee (GALAT), to the revision on the Governmental Organization Act that had been already introduced to the plenary session.

In response, the Grand National Party (GNP) opposed it mightily, saying, “When the revision was discussed in the GALAT, the ruling party and the opposition parties concluded to consult with each other over the issue of newly-established defense business office in the future,” adding, “The fact that the Uri Party and the DLP submitted its amended bill suddenly is unimaginable in light of political morality.”

The National Assembly Act stipulates that regarding a bill introduced to a plenary session, if there is an agreement among more than 30 lawmakers, its amended bill can be proposed, and the amended bill proposed must be put to a vote first.

GNP floor leader Kang Jae-sup suggested passing a bill on the Governmental Organization Act including the newly-founded dual-vice minister system as an essential part in this session, dealing with passage of the matter of a new foundation of a national business office in the regular session in September, to Uri Party floor leader Chung Sye-kyun. However, Chung reportedly refused Kang’s suggestion.

With the ruling party and the opposition parties squaring off against each other over the bill on the Governmental Organization Act, the passage of a dismissal motion against national defense minister Yoon Kwang-ung was put off.

Earlier, the National Assembly passed a bill on independent counsels in a bid to delve into the Russian Oil Field Development Project with 170 in favor, 72 against, and 22 abstentions, among the total votes of 264.

Once the bill on independent counsels is promulgated, going through the 10 days required to recommend and appoint an independent counsel and the 20 days needed to prepare for investigation, the investigation by an independent counsel is expected to begin around late July at the earliest.

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com