South Korea's ruling and opposition parties deadlock over Law Committee chair as parliament formation stalls

The composition of South Korea's 22nd National Assembly for its second half remains unresolved. The Democratic Party, which holds a stable majority of 161 seats, insists it will finalize the parliamentary lineup by the end of June and has pledged to activate the Assembly first, promising to deliver "people‑focused legislation".

The People Power Party rebuffs the ruling party’s demand for the Law and Justice Committee chairmanship, declaring that it will no longer engage in political pleading. Speaker Jo Jung‑sik’s deadline for submitting standing‑committee lists has passed, yet neither side has complied. After eleven rounds of negotiations, the dispute over the critical Law and Justice Committee chair—central to the legislative agenda—continues, with both parties preparing separate strategies for the remaining committee appointments.

The stalemate follows the June 2024 local elections and raises concerns about the ability of the Assembly to function effectively, potentially delaying key policy measures on inflation, economic slowdown, and regional depopulation.