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National Assembly Formation Completed Following Agreement on “National Election Commission Special Counsel Investigation Bill,” as Political Tensions Rise over Major Bills
As the ruling and opposition parties reached agreement on a special counsel investigation bill to investigate the National Election Commission (NEC)’s ballot shortage incident, the formation of the second-half of the 22nd National Assembly was completed. As a result, the National Assembly, which had been stalled for more than 50 days since the commencement of its second-half session, is now expected to return to normal operations.
The ruling and opposition parties have been on a tense standoff since the National Assembly speaker and deputy speakers were elected at a plenary session on June 5. During a plenary session on June 30, the Democratic Party of Korea unilaterally elected the chairs of 10 Standing Committees, including the contentious Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. The People Power Party condemned the move as "railroading" and responded with a full boycott of standing committee activities. Subsequently, the Democratic Party ramped up pressure by independently operating the 11 Standing and Special Committees chaired by its own members, while indirectly running the seven committees designated for the People Power Party through consultations with the government.
Using the agreement on the NEC special counsel bill as a basis for compromise, the People Power Party accepted the chairmanships of the seven standing committees allocated to the opposition by the Democratic Party and agreed to resume committee activities. As a result, after more than 50 days of parliamentary standstill since the opening of its second-half session, the National Assembly is finally set to resume normal operations.
However, even after the formation of the National Assembly was completed, clashes between the ruling and opposition parties over major legislation are expected to continue. The two parties are expected to remain in conflict over contentious bills pushed by the Democratic Party of Korea, including an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which would abolish the prosecution’s right to conduct supplementary investigations, and amendments to the National Assembly Act aimed at tightening the requirements for filibusters and shortening the review period for fast-track bills.
In addition, several contentious issues remain pending before parliamentary committees. The National Defense Committee is set to deliberate on highly divisive proposals, including the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) and the establishment of an integrated military academy that would merge the Korea Military Academy, the Republic of Korea Naval Academy, and the Republic of Korea Air Force Academy.
Heated debate between the ruling and opposition parties is also expected in the Finance, Economy, Planning and Budget Committee, which will review proposed real estate tax reforms, and the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, which will deliberate the proposed Mega Special Zone Act aimed at establishing a semiconductor industrial complex in the southwestern region.
As the first-ever Korean law firm to issue specialized legislative journals, D&A Public Sector Relations Group has been publishing the monthly Policy & Business Report since August 2019. The June & July 2026 issue of the P&B Report conducted a full inspection of legislation proposed to the National Assembly Subcommittee, Standing Committee, and Plenary Session from the opening of the 22nd National Assembly on May 15, 2026, to July 14, 2026, and selected and analyzed legislation with significant impact on corporate activities. In the case of major legislation, key mentions of legislators, members of the Standing Committee, and government officials are included.
*D&A Public Sector Relations Group provides P&B Report subscription services. Please contact us at lc@draju.com for further inquiries.
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