The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is pushing to hold the first plenary session of the August extraordinary session of the National Assembly on the 13th.

Chun Jun-ho, senior vice floor leader for operations, stated during a floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly today (the 4th), "We hope that the People Power Party's hostage-taking of livelihood legislation will end in August," adding, "We propose holding a plenary session on the 13th."

He went on to say, "We expect livelihood bills that have been detained and unable to clear the threshold of the plenary session due to the People Power Party's obstruction to be released."

If the plenary session is held on the 13th as planned by the DPK, a vote will first take place on the National Assembly Act amendment bill, which reduces the fast-track period from a maximum of 330 days to 90 days.

The bill was submitted to the plenary session on July 31, the final day of the July extraordinary session, but a vote could not proceed due to the People Power Party's filibuster (unlimited debate to lawfully obstruct proceedings).

Under National Assembly regulations, the bill is scheduled to be voted on at the first plenary session of the August extraordinary session.

The DPK maintains the stance that non-controversial bills that have undergone review by standing committees and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee must also be processed in the plenary session.

Acting DPK Chief and Floor Leader Han Byung-do noted, "There are a total of 113 bills that were left unprocessed in the first half of the National Assembly and are currently pending in the plenary session, while 2 and 75 bills were processed by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 15th and 29th of last month (during the second half), respectively," emphasizing, "We must definitely hold a plenary session on the 13th to begin processing these bills."

He further underscored the need for the plenary session to pass bills such as the amendment to the Act on the Maintenance and Improvement of Urban Areas and Dwelling Conditions, the amendment to the Special Act on Public Housing, the amendment to the Act on the Honorable Treatment of Persons of Distinguished Service to State Wars, the amendment to the Space Development Promotion Act, the amendment to the Act on Compensation for Persons Related to the May 18 Democratization Movement, and the Social and Solidarity Economy Framework Act.

(Photo: Yonhap News)