DP pushes to form parliamentary committees without ruling party

By Yi Wonju

SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) is set to push ahead with a plenary meeting to unilaterally select the parliamentary committee chiefs on Monday with the ruling People Power Party (PPP) vowing to boycott the move.

Though the legal deadline of June 7 to form the 18 standing committees has passed, the rival parties remain at loggerheads over who will head the parliamentary committees for the first two years of the 22nd National Assembly, which began its four-year term late last month.

The DP has said it will unilaterally select the chairs of 11 standing committees, including the judiciary, broadcasting and steering committees, if it fails to reach a last-minute agreement with the PPP before the plenary session, set for late Monday.

The PPP warned it will consider boycotting all Assembly meetings and all activities of the standing committees if the DP pushes ahead with the formation of the committees without the ruling party's consent.

The central point of contention is who will chair the three main committees, including the legislation and judiciary committee, a key Assembly panel that has the power to approve bills before they are put to a plenary vote.

The PPP has argued that it should take both the legislative and steering committees as the second-largest party has traditionally held the chair position of the legislative committee, with the ruling party holding the steering committee.

The steering committee is another key committee that handles the parliament's overall operations and oversees the presidential office.

Last week, Rep. Woo Won-shik of the DP was elected as a new speaker for the Assembly in a unilateral vote by the opposition parties. It marked the first time in South Korea's constitutional history that the first plenary meeting of the parliament opened unilaterally without the ruling party.

The DP secured 175 seats in the 300-seat National Assembly in April's general elections.

In South Korea, it has been customary for the largest party in terms of parliamentary seats to take the speaker position, with the No. 2 party getting the legislative committee chairmanship.

julesyi@yna.co.kr
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