22nd National Assembly Records Lowest Ever Bill Passage Rate of 7.42%

22nd Assembly's Legislative Output Hits Record Low: The Meaning Behind the 7.42% Passage Rate

During the first half of the 22nd National Assembly's term, the proportion of bills passed by standing committees reached a record low of 7.42%. This situation is similar across committees led by both the ruling and opposition parties, sparking criticism regarding the inefficiency of parliamentary operations and the lack of responsible attitudes from politicians. Growing concerns suggest that this poor legislative performance could negatively impact the recovery of people's livelihoods and the economy, as well as the securing of momentum for social development.

The first half of the Assembly's term was hampered by delays in negotiations for organizing its leadership and committees, hindering the commencement of normal parliamentary schedules. Subsequently, deepening differences and confrontations between the ruling and opposition parties prevented major bills from being properly reviewed. In particular, economic revitalization bills directly related to people's lives and bills to strengthen the social safety net remain pending, inevitably delaying progress in these sectors and causing inconvenience to the public. According to analysis by the National Assembly Budget Office, the first half of the 21st Assembly saw a committee passage rate exceeding 10%, making the current 7.42% figure a clear regression.

Declining Bill Passage Rate: Background and Causes

The sluggish legislative performance in the first half of the 22nd National Assembly is the result of a combination of factors. Firstly, intense confrontations between the ruling and opposition parties over the election of the Assembly Speaker and the allocation of committee chairmanships after the 22nd Assembly's opening disrupted the normal decision-making process. It has been pointed out that the delayed organization of parliamentary bodies made it difficult to secure even the minimum time for discussions required to review bills.

Severe conflicts arose as the Democratic Party of Korea unilaterally pushed through key committees, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the Steering Committee, and the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, leading the People Power Party to refuse participation or boycott the Assembly. This extreme confrontation often resulted in legislative reviews devolving into political disputes rather than constructive discussions, directly leading to a decline in legislative output. Similar phenomena were observed even in committees chaired by the ruling party, making it difficult to avoid criticism that both ruling and opposition parties were passive in legislative activities.

Experts warn that such a situation could weaken the very reason for the National Assembly's existence and its role, extending beyond short-term political battles. An official from the National Assembly Budget Office commented, "A low passage rate in standing committees can mean that the bills themselves are flawed, or that they were not processed after in-depth deliberation." He added, "This can degrade the quality of legislation and signals the emasculation of the Assembly's legislative function."

Political Stances and Societal Impact

The positions of the ruling and opposition parties on the parliamentary situation are divided. The People Power Party criticizes the Democratic Party's unilateral actions and, in response to the opposition's accusation of "not working," retorts that "the Democratic Party is turning the Assembly into a lame-duck institution." Conversely, the Democratic Party criticizes the government and ruling party for hindering national affairs and urges the ruling party to cooperate in passing bills beneficial to the public.

The Presidential Office has also expressed concern over bills facing delays in passage. A Presidential Office official noted the need to "review bills that have not passed the Assembly and delayed national tasks, and strive to create swift changes," emphasizing the role of the National Assembly.

As political confrontation continues, various sectors of society are experiencing difficulties due to the absence of necessary legislation. For instance, economic revitalization bills aimed at creating jobs and easing regulations remain unprocessed, potentially deterring corporate investment. Furthermore, delays in passing bills to address the low birth rate and aging population could increase the burden on future generations.

We will actively build the institutional foundation for resolving regional cultural disparities so that residents can enjoy culture and leisure equally, regardless of where they live. (Rep. Gu Ja-geun, regarding the proposal of the 'Balanced Development 3 Bills' to expand local cultural infrastructure)

This illustrates the reality that even the policy proposal efforts of individual lawmakers are difficult to bring to fruition when the National Assembly's legislative function is not operating properly. Thus, the 7.42% bill passage rate is not merely a number, but can be interpreted as an indicator reflecting a crisis in the legislative system, which is the foundation of national governance.

Future Outlook and Implications

If the current confrontational dynamic between the ruling and opposition parties persists into the latter half of the 22nd Assembly's term, a significant improvement in legislative performance is unlikely. The record-low 7.42% committee passage rate could deepen public distrust in the political sphere, potentially having negative implications for future political events such as general elections. Therefore, it is time for both parties to break away from catastrophic confrontation and demonstrate responsible attitudes enabling the National Assembly to perform its fundamental functions.

Experts emphasize the urgent need for institutional improvements to enhance transparency and efficiency in parliamentary operations, as well as efforts to find common ground through dialogue and compromise between parties. In particular, there is a strong call for swift bipartisan cooperation to pass bills directly related to people's livelihoods. Without such efforts, the 22nd National Assembly risks continuing to be branded as a "National Assembly that does not work."