Resolution to Form Ultra-Regional Special Zones Committee Passes Plenary Session; 10 Democrats, 6 PPP Members and 2 Non-Negotiating Group Members Lasanble

People Power Party opposes resolution, calling for review by relevant standing committees

A resolution to establish a special committee on super-regional special zones for strategic industries to drive locally led growth passed the plenary session on the 5th.

At its plenary session that day, the National Assembly passed the resolution to establish the special committee, with 145 votes in favor, 10 against and 8 abstentions among the 163 lawmakers present. Many People Power Party lawmakers did not participate in the vote.

The resolution calls for the formation of the Special Committee on Super-Regional Special Zones for Locally Led Growth to support the successful development of super-regional special zones and renewable energy hubs, and to review related bills. The committee will have 18 members, including its chair: 10 from the Democratic Party of Korea, six from the People Power Party and two from parties without negotiating-group status. Its term will run through the end of January next year.

Kim Hangyu, the Democratic Party of Korea's senior deputy floor leader for policy, explained in his presentation of the proposal: "Because bills for the successful development of super-regional special zones for strategic industries fall under the jurisdiction of several standing committees, including the Political Affairs Committee, the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, and the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, we seek to establish a special committee under Article 44 of the National Assembly Act to review them efficiently."

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jungsik casts his vote on a resolution calling for the expulsion of People Power Party lawmaker Kim Taegyu during the 12th plenary session of the regular National Assembly on the 5th. Yonhap News

In opposition, Kim Seungsoo, the People Power Party's senior deputy floor leader for parliamentary operations, said during a debate against the resolution that it "was pushed ahead while disregarding the basic deliberation procedures the National Assembly must observe." He added, "The bills underpinning this resolution fall under the jurisdiction of several ministries, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport." He opposed the resolution, saying, "The bills should be carefully reviewed based on the expertise of the relevant standing committees, with competing interests across different fields reconciled, so that more complete legislation can be drawn up."

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Jeon Eunsu countered in favor of the resolution, saying, "Although I serve on the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, I believe this issue involves too many complex points to be fully addressed by a single standing committee." She added, "Industries are already crossing boundaries and converging, and the National Assembly's deliberations should not remain confined by the silos of its standing committees."

With the resolution passed, the special committee will be formed and begin a full review of bills including the Super-Regional Special Zones Act.

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