South Korea parties dispute overhaul of assembly committees

At the national level, acting Democratic Party leader Han Byung‑do urged that the National Assembly’s full session on 9 May proceed without deadlock, noting five standing committees have already held their inaugural meetings and that remaining committees will convene soon. The opposition People Power Party criticised the Democratic Party for seizing the chair of the Legislative and Judiciary Committee, arguing it disrupts the traditional balance between the governing and opposition parties and warned that such moves could undermine legislative checks.

In Daegu’s Dalseong‑gun council, a People Power‑led vote abolished three standing committees, shifting all matters to full‑council votes. Democratic Party councilors boycotted the session and staged a sit‑in protest, saying the decision was taken without public consultation and damages local democratic practice. The move follows similar committee‑abolition actions in other Korean local assemblies.