The leaders of the two major parties met on the 18th to discuss current issues in the National Assembly, including the distribution of vacant parliamentary committee chairperson positions. Both ruling and opposition parties agreed that 'additional consultations are necessary.' Originally, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea had a policy of not conceding the position of the chairperson of the Legal Affairs Committee, but it appears they have shifted their stance to leave room for negotiation following the opposition's demand described as 'a minimum requirement to uphold the separation of powers and democracy.'

Democratic Party of Korea representative acting president and floor leader Kim Byeong-ki (second from the left) and People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seok (second from the right) meet on the afternoon of the 18th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul regarding negotiations on the supplementary budget and the formation of committees. From the left, clockwise: Moon Jin-seok, the chief deputy floor leader, Kim, the floor leader, Song, the floor leader, and Heo Young, the chief policy deputy leader. the 18th/News1

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Byung-ki and People Power Party leader Song Eon-seok had a surprise meeting in the Democratic Party's leadership office around 3:55 p.m. It is reported that Kim suggested the meeting first.

The Democratic Party of Korea's stance was to hold a National Assembly session on the 19th to elect the vacant chairpersons of the Legal Affairs Committee, the Budget and Accounts Committee, the Planning and Finance Committee, and the Steering Committee. However, since the formation of the People Power Party's leadership has not yet been completed and additional consultations regarding the composition are needed, the schedule for the session is to be discussed later.

Moon Jin-seok, the Democratic Party's chief policymaker, told reporters, 'From the Democratic Party's perspective, we urgently requested the session for the convening of the meeting tomorrow to create an environment for the government to work, including the supplementary budget of the Lee Jae-myung administration. However, we accepted the view that the People Power Party's leadership is not yet properly formed and needs more time.'

The issue of distributing the chairperson of the Legal Affairs Committee, which has become a point of contention between the parties, will continue to be discussed. Moon, the chief policymaker, stated, 'Standing committees operate for two years. Our party's position is that we need to maintain it for one more year,' adding, 'The People Power Party has indicated that they would like to transfer the Legal Affairs Committee, but since there are differences in opinions, we agreed to work toward resolving them.'

The chief policymaker Yoo also noted, 'The People Power Party said that with a Democratic Party president born and the ruling party holding an absolute majority of 190 seats, there needs to be space for the People Power Party to play a role for cooperation.' He added, 'While there hasn't been sufficient discussion regarding the standing committees, it has been agreed that additional consultations are necessary.' The People Power Party has suggested that they could hand over the chairperson positions of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee, the National Defense Committee, and the Intelligence Committee, asking the ruling party to concede the chairperson position of the Legal Affairs Committee.

The two parties' chief policymakers are scheduled to meet again on the 19th to continue discussions on the session schedule and the distribution of committee chairpersons. Chief policymaker Yoo stated, 'We will meet again tomorrow for discussions, and after that, we should have a date for the session.'