Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers on the National Assembly's Land and Transportation Committee on Tuesday called on the People Power Party to stop its internal power struggles and return to the Assembly immediately to cooperate in forming standing committees.
Rep. Bok Gi-wang, the Democratic Party's floor leader on the land committee, and fellow Democratic Party members held a press conference at the National Assembly's communication hall Tuesday, saying "the livelihoods of the people cannot be a subject of political strife" and urging the PPP to "return to the National Assembly right now and show a responsible stance on the pressing land and transportation issues and livelihood legislation."
The Democratic Party lawmakers condemned the situation, saying the land and transportation committee "cannot even operate normally despite the legal deadline for forming the Assembly having passed more than 50 days ago." They added that the PPP, which is responsible for electing the committee chair, has not even completed the appointment of its standing committee members, and "the damage is falling squarely on the people."
As of Monday, 1,096 bills were pending before the land committee. Bills aimed at stabilizing housing for the public, ensuring safety at construction sites and driving balanced regional development have all stalled before clearing the committee, lawmakers noted.
The Democratic Party lawmakers expressed strong concern, saying "the processing of key bills needed to secure South Korea's future growth engines is being delayed."
Legislative support for the so-called "three mega-projects" — aimed at balanced national development and securing future economic drivers — has ground to a halt. Among the stalled measures are fast-track bills to establish advanced industrial complexes, including revisions to the Industrial Sites and Development Act needed to back the government's recently announced semiconductor investment plan worth 800 trillion won ($532 billion).
The Democratic Party lawmakers pressed the PPP further, saying "the construction sector slump is dragging on and the public is desperately calling for expanded housing supply and residential stability." They urged the PPP to "stop criticizing from outside the Assembly and come into the land and transportation committee chamber to engage in vigorous debate and legislation for the people."
Rep. Bok said "the land committee, as a livelihood standing committee, can never be a subject of political strife," adding that he would "pour every available means into normalizing the standing committee as soon as possible."
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