PPP proposes taking turns in chairing two major standing committees

Floor leader of the ruling People Power Party Choo Kyung-ho, left, and main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's Park Chan-dae walk aside each other at the National Assembly in Seoul on June 5. Yonhap

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Wednesday proposed taking turns in heading the parliamentary legislation and steering committees as it seeks to find a middle ground with the opposition parties.

PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho made the proposal as the party has been boycotting all committee meetings after the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) unilaterally selected 11 out of the 18 parliamentary committee chiefs for the newly launched 22nd parliament without the PPP's participation.

Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly, Choo urged the DPK to consider an arrangement where the DPK takes the chairs of the legislation and judiciary committee and the steering committee in the first year and hands them over to the PPP in the second year.

DPK floor leader Park Chan-dae dismissed the proposal later in the day, saying the chairmanship of the committees is "not something that can be traded in the first place."

The legislation and judiciary committee is a key panel with the power to approve bills for a plenary vote at the Assembly, while the steering committee handles parliament's overall operations and oversees the presidential office. (Yonhap)