SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Yonhap) — The ruling and main opposition parties agreed Wednesday to swiftly deal with bills on livelihood issues that were left aside amid monthslong partisan disputes over other contentious issues.
Kim Sang-hoon, the top policymaker of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), and Jin Sung-joon, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP)’s chief policymaker, reached the agreement during their first policy meeting at the National Assembly.
“We reviewed the approximately 50 bills proposed by the DP, and we found several that we can accept,” Kim said, pointing out livelihood bills that aim to protect victims of crimes, among others.
Jin also said, “There are quite a few bills” that the rival parties can agree on.
They also agreed on the need to cut electricity bills for the vulnerable during the heat wave.
The two sides still remained at odds over the financial investment income tax, which is set to be introduced in January. The PPP stressed the need for the DP to accept the abolition of the tax while the DP maintained its position that the tax should be implemented as scheduled.
Meanwhile, the rival parties held an emergency meeting and agreed on the need to form a permanent consultative body with the government to better address bills on livelihood issues.
Their agreement comes after months of political strife since the 22nd National Assembly opened in May, with the DP unilaterally pushing through contentious bills, such as one mandating a special counsel probe into allegations surrounding the death of a Marine last year, and the PPP responding with filibusters and calls for the president’s reconsideration.
Kim Sang-hoon (R), the top policymaker of the ruling People Power Party, and Jin Sung-joon, the main opposition Democratic Party’s chief policymaker, shake hands before their policy meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on Aug. 7, 2024. (Yonhap)
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