[Anchor]

The National Assembly is frozen from the start as the Democratic Party of Korea (DP) has unilaterally elected 11 standing committee chairs. The DP argues that the National Assembly must be opened quickly to process bills, while the People Power Party (PPP) demands the position of Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair. As the two sides remain at a stalemate, a compromise does not appear easy.

Reporter Son Hyung-an has the story.

[Reporter]

During the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly today, DP Floor Leader Han Byung-do described the election of DP lawmakers to 11 standing committee chair positions for the second half of the 22nd National Assembly as "the first step toward creating a working National Assembly."

Addressing the PPP, which is protesting and demanding the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair position, the DP floor leader stated that they would mobilize all means and methods if the party continues to obstruct the operation of the National Assembly.

He further announced that they intend to process the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act during this second half of the National Assembly.

[Han Byung-do/DP Floor Leader: We will swiftly complete the amendment of the Criminal Procedure Act, which is the final piece of the puzzle for prosecution reform.]

The PPP strongly protested, claiming that the DP is pushing through the operation of the second half of the National Assembly solely by leveraging its majority of seats.

In particular, the party expressed deep regret that the motion for the appointment of Prime Minister Han Sung-sook, whose qualifications and various allegations remain unresolved, was processed unilaterally without agreement with the opposition party.

Furthermore, they protested that National Assembly Speaker Jo Jeong-sik, who is from the DP, forcibly assigned 95 PPP lawmakers to their respective standing committees, and all of their members have submitted their resignations.

[Jeong Jeom-sik/PPP Floor Leader: Continue with that kind of arrogant and self-righteous politics. We will not comply with a composition of the house that is like handing out scraps.]

While there is a possibility that the ruling and opposition parties may resume negotiations over the election of the remaining 7 standing committee chairs, an agreement seems unlikely due to the significant gap in their positions regarding the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair.

(Video reporting: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing: Lee Seung-hee)