Rival parties agree to revise Itaewon special bill

May 02, 2024, 09:11 am

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Rep. Lee Yang-soo (right) of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and Rep. Park Ju-min of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) enter the National Assembly to announce the agreement to revise a special bill mandating a new investigation into the 2022 Itaewon tragedy, on May 1, 2024./ Source: Yonhap News

AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

The ruling and main opposition parties agreed Wednesday to revise a special bill mandating a new investigation into the Itaewon tragedy before passing it through a plenary parliamentary session Thursday. However, they failed to agree on two other controversial issues related to a military report on the death of Marine Corporal Chae Su-geun and the Special Act on Jeonse Fraud, and decided to continue discussions later. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) hinted at holding plenary sessions to handle bills under the authority of the National Assembly Speaker if it fails to reach a final agreement with the ruling People Power Party (PPP), raising tensions between the parties.

Rep. Lee Yang-soo, senior deputy floor leader of the PPP, and his DP counterpart Rep. Park Ju-min announced that they agreed on major matters such as the makeup of the special investigation committee, the period of operation and method of investigation.

Under the deal, the committee will not have the authority to conduct investigations ex officio or seek warrants, operate for up to a year with the possibility of extending its term by up to three months, and comprise a chair who will be chosen following consultations between the rival parties and four members recommended by each party.

The presidential office welcomed the deal. “Cooperative governance and politics between the ruling and opposition parties have begun through the meeting between President Yoon Suk-yeol and DP Chairman Lee Jae-myung, and we consider this agreement the first detailed outcome,” presidential spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung said during a press briefing, referring to the Yoon-Lee meeting last Monday.

However, the DP plans to handle two bills related to Marine Corporal Chae and jeonse fraud on Thursday. “The DP’s enforced bills should not be put up at the plenary session on Thursday,” Rep. Lee said. “Other bills remain in the process of agreement later and dialogue with the National Assembly Speaker,” Rep. Park said.

There are many voices within the DP that if they fail to reach an agreement to hold a plenary session due to opposition from the ruling party, the plenary session should be held exclusively. Political circles are concerned that if the opposition party pushes ahead with the controversial bills, the rival parties will again face an extreme confrontation.

#PPP #DP #Itaewon tragedy