Jo Jungsik: "Livelihoods First, Second, and Third... Let's Establish a Tradition of Processing Livelihood Bills Within the Session"

On September 1, National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik stated, "The National Assembly's top priority, above all else, is the livelihood of the people." He continued, "To create an effective and impactful National Assembly, I propose that we establish the 'tradition of bipartisan cooperation for people's livelihood,' under which all livelihood-related bills referred to the plenary session are processed within the same session."

At the opening ceremony for the 2026 regular session of the National Assembly held on this day, Speaker Cho delivered an address, saying, "The top priority of this regular session is to narrow the gap between the country's balance sheet and the household budgets of its people, and to ensure that the warmth of growth is felt evenly by all." He emphasized this in his remarks.

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First, Speaker Cho addressed the incident in which nine South Korean citizens went missing in Nepal, saying, "I earnestly hope for the safe return of our missing citizens, who went missing in the floods in Nepal." He urged the government to "mobilize every available resource and do its utmost in the rescue operation for the missing."

Regarding the current international situation, Speaker Cho stated, "The rise of prioritizing national interest and the logic of power are undermining the international order. At the same time, the pressure of technological hegemony competition and protectionism is tightening the space for South Korea, a trade-dependent nation." He added, "While the economy has grown thanks to the semiconductor boom and a current account surplus, everyday life for ordinary people remains difficult."

He continued, "During the three extraordinary sessions in the second half of the term, we achieved an agreement on 160 livelihood-related bills." He proposed again that livelihood bills referred to the plenary session should be handled within the same session, calling for the creation of such a tradition. Speaker Cho emphasized, "There is still a long way to go," and said, "The National Assembly must become a protective barrier for the people."

Speaker Cho identified artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies as one of the four major agendas for the future. He said, "Delaying a law for one year can result in a gap of ten years, so regulatory improvements must be made swiftly and support must be provided boldly." He added, "Let us process bills related to national strategic technologies, including semiconductors and AI, during this regular session."

Speaker Cho also presented other agendas such as ▲ youth, ▲ climate crisis, and ▲ peace on the Korean Peninsula. He said, "All four of these future agendas come down to the question, 'What kind of nation will we leave to the next generation?'" He emphasized, "The National Assembly must draw the big picture for this future."

He further identified key tasks for achieving national unity, including ▲ a basic social safety net, ▲ balanced regional development, ▲ fostering social dialogue, and ▲ national integration. Speaker Cho stated, "Those left in the shadow of growth must be embraced by the state," adding, "An inclusive safety net that guarantees a minimum standard of living for all—the foundation of a basic society—is a strong basis for resolving polarization."

Speaker Cho also reiterated his call for constitutional amendment. He said, "Any constitutional reform must be promoted from the perspective of both the future and unity." He emphasized, "We must capture the spirit of this era, further expand basic rights of the people, strengthen the stability of national governance, ensure checks and balances through the separation of powers, and devolve authority to the regions."

He highlighted the importance of parliamentary diplomacy as well. Speaker Cho said, "All 299 members of the National Assembly should take on the role of diplomats, dedicated to protecting our citizens overseas and supporting business activities abroad." He suggested, "For legislation concerning trade and foreign economic affairs related to national interests, the ruling and opposition parties should function as one team and act swiftly."

Speaker Cho concluded, "The outcome of this regular session, and what kind of National Assembly it will be remembered as 100 days from now, depends on all 299 of us here today." He urged, "Let us think only of the people and their livelihoods. Let us work persistently through disagreements, and process agreements without delay. Let us make concessions for the sake of the people's well-being."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.