Parties agree to hold regular meetings every two weeks
The newly appointed policy committee chiefs of the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party held a joint policy committee meeting on Tuesday, the first day of the regular legislative session, and agreed to consult frequently to expedite the passage of bills addressing people's livelihoods.
"First, second and third — it's all about people's livelihoods," Democratic Party Policy Committee Chairman Kwon Chil-seung said. "I hope the ruling and opposition parties can work together to raise the National Assembly's dignity and productivity, and deliver tangible results that the public can feel."
"Starting today, the policy committees of both parties will ensure that political feuding never holds back people's livelihoods," Kwon added. "Let's debate contentious issues fiercely and candidly, but move quickly on matters we can handle together and deliver real results for the public."
Deputy Policy Committee Chairman Heo Yeong said the two parties had identified about 74 campaign pledges shared between the presidential and local elections. "It would be good to draw up a working list and put them into practice together," he said, adding that he hoped for vigorous debate on youth policy.
People Power Party Policy Committee Chairwoman Im Yi-ja said that even when the two parties clash, they must put their heads together to find solutions when it comes to the common ground of people's livelihoods. "Let's start by legislating the pledges both parties made together in the last local elections, then lay out each party's policies and bills and fast-track the livelihood-related ones," she proposed.
Im called on both sides to deliberate sufficiently on contentious bills and cooperate on supplementary legislation. "In particular, I hope we can discuss together how to address the yellow-envelope bill and the proposal to abolish supplementary investigative powers, so that the public does not end up harmed," she said.
PPP Policy Committee Chairwoman Kim Eun-hye sharpened her tone over the confirmation hearing for Ministry of Justice minister-nominee Kim Seung-won, whom she called the "main dish" of the Aug. 30 Cabinet reshuffle and the face of the prosecution's withdrawal of indictments. "There is public sentiment that the hearing must be conducted strictly, even if it means staying up two or three nights, in order to uphold the rule of law and convey the will of the people," she said.
The policy committee chiefs of both parties agreed, at Im's suggestion, to hold regular meetings once every two weeks following Tuesday's session.
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