**[Anchor]**
The special law concerning the integration of administrative regions, a major variable in the upcoming local elections on June 3rd, has crossed the threshold of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee under the leadership of the ruling party coalition. This includes the law integrating Jeonnam and Gwangju.
Today’s plenary session is expected to address three judicial reform bills, and a vote will be held on the arrest consent motion for Independent lawmaker Kang Seon-woo, who is suspected of receiving 100 million won in nomination bribes.
Let’s connect to our reporter covering the National Assembly, Hwang Bo-hye-gyeong!
**[Reporter]**
Yes, I’m at the National Assembly.
**[Anchor]**
Let’s start with the situation in the Judiciary Committee. Only the Jeonnam and Gwangju integration law has passed through the Judiciary Committee among the three proposed administrative integrations?
**[Reporter]**
Yes, that’s correct. In today’s full session of the Judiciary Committee, the three administrative integration special laws, which couldn’t be processed due to differences between the ruling and opposition parties yesterday, were resubmitted.
The special law for Chungnam and Daejeon, opposed by local government heads belonging to the People Power Party, was stalled, affecting even the Daegu and Gyeongbuk integration law. These bills had previously passed the Administrative Committee through an agreement between ruling and opposition parties.
Na Kyung-won, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party for pushing the law hastily without proper procedures, such as a resident referendum.
Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae argued that the People Power Party is actually opposing the law due to asymmetrical representation issues and suggested to Judiciary Committee Chair Choo Mi-ae that they first process the Jeonnam and Gwangju integration law.
Chair Choo accepted this, stating there is a need to watch the situation concerning the opposing opinion from Daegu City Council.
Ultimately, only the Jeonnam and Gwangju integration law passed through the Judiciary Committee under the Democratic Party’s lead, leaving the fate of the other bills uncertain.
In front of the National Assembly’s main building, a protest rally opposing the hasty integration of Chungnam and Daejeon will take place soon, with related personnel from the People Power Party gathering.
**[Anchor]**
There’s also a ‘strategic battle’ regarding the order of agenda items for today’s plenary session. What are the points of contention?
**[Reporter]**
Ruling and opposition parties are unable to narrow their differences on the bills and their order to be raised in the plenary session. As a result, the session, initially scheduled for 2 p.m., has been postponed by an hour.
The first agenda item in the session is scheduled to be the vote on the arrest consent motion for Independent lawmaker Kang Seon-woo, for whom an arrest warrant has been requested under suspicion of receiving 100 million won in nomination bribes.
Before the vote, Kang is expected to make a personal statement; following the warrant request, he sent a letter to Democratic Party members stating that “one’s political career is not worth 100 million won.”
The motion will pass if there’s a majority attendance and a majority vote in favor among those present.
The Democratic Party has decided to let members vote at their discretion, whereas the National Innovation Party has made ‘approving the motion’ its party line.
The voting outcome looks likely to pass.
In today’s session, the Democratic Party aims to address their ‘three judicial reform bills,’ which include establishing a new crime of legal distortion, introducing a constitutional complaint system, and increasing the number of Supreme Court justices. Additionally, they plan to process other legislative items such as tax law amendments and the Child Allowance Act.
They have clearly expressed the intent to hold daily plenary sessions from today until the 3rd of next month to deal with reform and welfare-related legislation.
However, the People Power Party has announced a filibuster, raising the possibility of a maximum 7-night, 8-day filibuster scenario.
Let’s listen to the statements from the morning meetings of the ruling and opposition parties.
**[Han Byeong-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: Even if the People Power Party blocks with senseless filibusters, the Democratic Party will focus solely on the people and keep moving forward.]**
**[Song Eon-seok / People Power Party Floor Leader: The Democratic Party is pushing forward with what they call the ‘three judicial destruction laws,’ which are clearly unconstitutional. This is an example of a totalitarian dictatorship.]**
**[Anchor]**
With 99 days left until the June 3rd local elections, what are the situations in the respective parties?
**[Reporter]**
The Democratic Party is conducting interviews for gubernatorial candidates until today.
Choo Mi-ae, who has not yet officially declared her run but is preparing for the Gyeonggi Province governor race, also attended.
Kim Nam-jun, the former spokesperson for the Blue House who recently resigned, expressed his intent to run in the local elections during a meeting at the National Assembly with Representative Jung Cheong-rae.
Regarding coordination with former leader Song Young-gil concerning his candidacy in Incheon, Gyeyang, he expressed willingness to follow the party’s decision.
The People Power Party has held two consecutive caucus meetings.
It’s expected they will discuss strategies such as a filibuster ahead of the afternoon plenary session.
There continues to be division within the party over statements made by leader Jang Dong-hyuk about martial law not being insurrection, as well as over the party’s direction.
Yesterday, they faced criticism for what was dubbed a ‘gag caucus,’ using time with other agenda items, and today, attention is on whether a fierce debate will occur regarding the party’s future.
This has been a report from the National Assembly.
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