2024-07-19 00:17:20
The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, passed the ‘2024 Special Measures Act for Overcoming the People’s Livelihood Crisis (People’s Livelihood Recovery Support Fund)’ proposed by Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung at the plenary session of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee on the 18th. This bill, which is also Lee’s general election pledge, is the first party bill of the 22nd National Assembly Democratic Party, and provides for the payment of 250,000 to 350,000 won to every citizen in the form of local love gift certificates. Ruling party lawmakers protested, calling it a “Lee Jae-myung constitutional bill” and walked out, refusing to vote. The government also made clear its opposition, saying, “There is controversy over its unconstitutionality and the burden on national finances.”
The opposition party omitted the subcommittee review process on the grounds that the bill subcommittee of the Public Administration and Security Committee had not been formed that day. The Democratic Party’s Public Administration and Security Committee members held a press conference after the bill was processed and said, “(The subcommittee was not formed) because of the People Power Party’s stubbornness in not considering non-negotiating groups,” and emphasized procedural legitimacy, saying, “After proposing the bill as a party line, the Democratic Party went through the deliberation period stipulated by law and also listened to expert opinions through a legislative hearing.” The Democratic Party plans to finalize the bill at the plenary session on the 25th after going through the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
Shin Jeong-hoon, chairman of the Public Administration and Security Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed and passed the People’s Livelihood Recovery Support Fund Act at the plenary session that afternoon. The Democratic Party proceeded with the preliminary review directly at the plenary session without going through the bill subcommittee review process.
In response to the opposition party’s attempt to force through the bill, Rep. Cho Eun-hee, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized the bill, saying, “Is this the people’s order or Rep. Lee’s order?” and “The essence of the People’s Livelihood Recovery Support Fund Act is a ‘Lee Jae-myung constitutional bill’ that seeks to glorify Rep. Lee alone with the people’s tax money.” Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety Ko Ki-dong also pointed out at the event, “(The support fund) is supposed to be paid out in the form of local love gift certificates, but 40 million out of our 50 million citizens are not using the local love gift certificates.”
In response, Democratic Party members emphasized the consumption-boosting effect of the livelihood recovery support fund. Rep. Lee Sang-sik said, “We are not giving the support fund to Lee Jae-myung personally,” and “The livelihood recovery support fund is quick and direct in its effect and stimulates consumption.”
The Democratic Party plans to pass the bill during the extraordinary session of the National Assembly in July. After the general meeting of lawmakers on the same day, Democratic Party floor leader Noh Jong-myeon held a press conference and said, “The Democratic Party’s position is that the plenary session must be held on the 25th regardless of the government or the ruling party,” and “We will put the People’s Livelihood Recovery Support Act on the first agenda item for deliberation.”
The National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee also held an agenda coordination committee meeting on the same day and passed the “Yellow Envelope Law” (Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act amendment) by the opposition party alone and forwarded it to the plenary session. The agenda coordination committee is a device that allows for discussions on bills with differing opinions for up to 90 days, but the Democratic Party joined hands with the Progressive Party and nullified it with a majority of seats. The Yellow Envelope Law strengthens the responsibility of the main contractor for subcontracted workers and expands the scope of industrial action to limit the company’s claim for damages against striking workers.
Reporter Yoon Myeong-jin [email protected]
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2024-07-19 00:17:20