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🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Reform Party Opposes Intelligence Service and Small-Business Protection Bills as Party Policy

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Approved/passed
  • South Korea’s Reform Party opposed two bills passed by the National Assembly, arguing that they could broaden intelligence activities and weaken protections for small businesses.
  • The intelligence law passed 195-17, with 40 abstentions, while the small-business bill passed 248-13, with four abstentions.
  • The Progressive Party also opposed both measures, which the Democratic Party and People Power Party had agreed to classify as non-contentious legislation.

The Reform Party chose the National Assembly’s plenary session to draw a line against two bills supported by both major parties. It opposed amendments to the National Intelligence Service Act and the Special Act on Designating Business Categories Suitable for Livelihood-Based Small Businesses as official party positions.

Expanding the National Intelligence Service’s duties comprehensively even to cases that are ‘suspected’ does not fit the purpose of reform.

· Reform PartyThe party explained its opposition to the amendment to the National Intelligence Service Act.

The intelligence amendment allows the National Intelligence Service to collect, prepare and distribute cybersecurity information even when it merely suspects activity by international or state-backed hacking groups. The bill passed with 195 votes in favor, 17 against and 40 abstentions among 252 lawmakers present.

The second amendment eases penalties when large companies acquire, launch or expand businesses designated as suitable for small, livelihood-based operators. It passed with 248 votes in favor, 13 against and four abstentions among 265 lawmakers present. The Progressive Party also opposed both bills as a matter of party policy.

There are concerns about indiscriminate market encroachment by large companies and the effectiveness of corrective orders.

· Reform PartyThe party stated its objections to the small-business protection bill.

The Reform Party said expanding the intelligence service’s duties to cases involving activities that are only “suspected” does not fit the purpose of reform. On the small-business legislation, it warned of concerns over indiscriminate market encroachment by large companies and the effectiveness of corrective orders. Floor leader Kim Jun-hyung said the party would make its position on future bills clearer.

We want to make the party’s position on future bills clearer.

· Kim Jun-hyung, Reform Party floor leaderKim described the party’s approach to legislative positions.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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