National Assembly Completes Committee Lineup After 54 Days; Gender Equality Committee Chair to Be Chosen June 30

South Korea's National Assembly has largely finalized its committee structure for the latter half of its 22nd term, concluding a process that began 54 days after its inauguration. The assembly successfully elected six additional standing committee chairpersons from the People Power Party.

Among the key appointments, Yoo Ui-dong secured the chairmanship of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee. His election was notable as it broke the party's tradition of allocating such positions based on seniority among three-term lawmakers. Yoo, a four-term legislator, won a closely contested internal primary by a single vote, reportedly swayed by his appeal regarding past perceived slights due to his age.

However, the selection for the Gender Equality and Family Committee chairman faced a setback. Im Yi-ja, the initial candidate, withdrew her nomination in protest of Yoo's election, which deviated from established party norms. The People Power Party is expected to select a new candidate through its internal processes, with a vote anticipated in a plenary session on June 30.

In addition to the leadership selections, the National Assembly also passed 23 non-contentious bills. These included amendments to the Framework Act on National Taxes, allowing companies facing financial distress to apply for tax investigation deferrals, and revisions to the Building Act, mandating the use of non-combustible materials for interior finishing in underground parking structures.