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The ruling Democratic Party’s “KOSPI 5000 Special Committee” met with Korea Exchange (KRX) executives on July 29 to discuss ways to boost the capital market, stressing that eradicating unfair trading practices such as stock price manipulation is crucial to sustaining recent market gains.

Committee chair Rep. Oh Ki-hyung emphasized the need to transform public sentiment from skepticism—“only fools invest in the stock market”—to confidence. He expressed high expectations for the joint task force aimed at tackling stock manipulation, pledging full parliamentary support for its work.

Rep. Lee Jung-moon echoed President Lee Jae-myung’s stance that those profiting from unfair trading must face “ruinous penalties” and strict recovery procedures to prevent repeat offenses.

Lawmakers also called for swift account freezes to counter illegal stock-tip chat rooms, known as “illegal leading rooms.” Rep. Ahn Do-gul noted that “complicated procedures delay account suspensions,” urging a system allowing preemptive freezes to block illicit withdrawals.

Rep. Kim Nam-geun stressed the importance of fully investigating past market scandals to restore investor trust, warning that failing to do so would reinforce perceptions of weak oversight and deter investment.

Other proposals included tax incentives to encourage higher dividends from listed firms, raised by Rep. Lee So-young, and improved protections for minority shareholders during delisting processes, as noted by Rep. Min Byung-deok. Rep. Lee Kang-il added that “standardizing electronic proxies and guaranteeing real-time shareholder voting rights” is necessary to ensure meaningful online general meetings.

Rep. Park Hong-bae concluded that amendments to commercial law to revitalize the capital market are “steadily progressing” and urged KRX to “fulfill its responsibilities in this effort.”