Han Byung-do vows to hold plenary session Thursday, push through Assembly reform bill

Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Han Byung-do said Tuesday the party would use the August extraordinary session to deliver results for the public, pledging to pass a National Assembly Act amendment to shorten the fast-track period and a package of housing supply bills at a plenary session set for Thursday.

Speaking at a floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly, Han warned the People Power Party against obstruction. "The Democratic Party will hold the plenary session on Aug. 20 without fail and pass livelihood bills that directly affect people's lives," he said. "We warn the PPP as well: we will no longer stand by while they block livelihood legislation with pointless filibusters."

Han said the party would first put to a vote the National Assembly Act amendment whose filibuster was terminated during the July extraordinary session. "We will fix the fast track, which has earned the label of 'slow track' by taking up to 330 days, by cutting it to 90 days so the Assembly can respond to livelihood issues in a timely manner," he said.

He added that the most urgent priority at the plenary session was legislation to support housing supply. "The Urban Improvement Act to shorten redevelopment and reconstruction project timelines, the Public Housing Act to accelerate the supply of public residential land, and the Special Act on Mixed Development of School Sites to make use of unused school land — these follow-up bills to the Sept. 7 supply measures announced last year have been waiting nearly a year for passage," he said.

Han also noted that 113 other bills were awaiting a plenary vote, including the May 18 Democratic Patriots Honor Act and the National Basic Living Security Act, along with 36 livelihood bills left unfinished in the first half of the Assembly term. "With the regular session just two weeks away, all remaining bills must be cleared during the August session," he said.

After the floor strategy meeting, floor spokesperson Lee Ju-hee told reporters that the Thursday plenary session was "nearly confirmed." She added that both the Democratic Party and the PPP have party workshops planned for next week, and that the party intended to request an additional plenary session on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

On the agenda for the plenary session, Lee said the items still needed to be sorted out through talks between the two parties. "It looks like we will first vote on the National Assembly Act amendment — the 'real fast-track bill' — whose filibuster was terminated last time, and our position is that the real estate supply-related bills must also be passed at this session," she said.

The vote on three Special Inspector candidates is also expected to take place at Thursday's plenary session. The Democratic Party had recommended attorney Choi Gil-su, the PPP had recommended attorney Kang Ji-sik, and the Korean Bar Association had recommended attorney Choi Yong-hun. Under the relevant procedure, the president must designate one of the recommended candidates as Special Inspector within three days of receiving the recommendations, after which the nominee must go through a National Assembly confirmation hearing. Lee said a confirmation hearing was expected in early September.

Lee also said the special prosecutor for the National Election Commission investigation was expected to launch soon. "On the 14th, the public recommendation committee recommended two candidates. The president is expected to make the appointment on Tuesday," she said. "Once the announcement is made, the special prosecutor's office will formally launch and begin its work."

Lee further outlined the budget review schedule: comprehensive policy questioning is set for Monday, Aug. 24, and Tuesday, Aug. 25; department-by-department review runs from Wednesday, Aug. 26, through Aug. 30; and the budget subcommittee meets from Sept. 2-4. She also said party-government consultations on follow-up legislation to the Code of Criminal Procedure were expected to take place at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on Thursday.