July 30 Legislative Report: Bills Proposed to Ease Teacher Burden and Normalize Public Education, Along with Oversight of Government Policies

Legislative Moves Toward Easing Teacher Burden and Normalizing Public Education

Legislative movements centered around the National Assembly Education Committee are gaining momentum to reduce the workload of homeroom teachers and normalize public classrooms. In August 2024, Rep. Jeong Kwang-yeol of the People Power Party (PPP) and 10 others sponsored a revision to the Early Childhood Education Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, focusing on the appropriate placement of homeroom teachers. This is interpreted as a measure to resolve the double burden of decreasing student numbers per class and increasing administrative tasks for teachers. Simultaneously, Rep. Song Kyung-taek of the Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP) also introduced a revision to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to reduce class sizes and increase per-student education spending in response to the rapidly declining school-age population, marking an effort to improve educational conditions.

Members of the Education Committee also strongly criticized the lack of on-site support from the government. During an Education Committee meeting in August 2024, Rep. Jeong Kwang-yeol criticized the Ministry of Education for the absence of concrete support measures and urged for effective policies to overcome the crisis in public education. Additionally, RKP Rep. Lee Gi-jae opposed the excessive policy of shortening the retirement age for teachers, demanding guarantees for teachers' teaching rights and fundamental improvements to educational conditions. Rep. Oh Eun-mi also participated in the state audit, focusing on pending issues regarding the protection of teachers' rights and raising the need for legal and institutional safety nets.

Policy Checks via State Audit and Budget Committee

Beyond legislative activities, the National Assembly is strictly checking key government policies through the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. Rep. Jeong Kwang-yeol conducted questioning during the Budget and Accounts Committee review process, holding authorities accountable for failures in real estate policies. This is analyzed as a measure to correct policy errors that caused market instability and to ensure fiscal soundness. PPP Rep. Oh Do-chang, along with RKP Reps. Song Kyung-taek, Oh Eun-mi, and Lee Gi-jae, are also members of the committee, closely scrutinizing the direction of the government's 2026 budget formulation to control wasteful spending.

Meanwhile, Rep. Song Kyung-taek co-sponsored a special bill to introduce a youth basic income to solve youth poverty and introduced a revision to the Higher Education Act containing an expansion of national scholarships. Rep. Oh Do-chang is concentrating his efforts on securing budgets for regional economic revitalization by strengthening communication with relevant ministries to activate the national industrial complex within the Jeonju Sinbok Innovation City. Thus, legislators are engaging in all-encompassing livelihood legislation, ranging from education to youth jobs and the fostering of local industries.

Intra-Party Divisions Revealed in Key Bill Votes

During the voting process at the plenary session, disagreements and divisions within parties regarding specific bills became evident. During the alternative vote on the partial amendment bill of the Korea Rural Community Corporation and Farmland Management Fund Act, processed on June 18, 2026, 10 PPP lawmakers broke from the party line and cast opposing votes. The group, including Park Soo-young, Lee Chul-kyu, Seong Il-jong, Yoon Han-hong, Park Dae-chul, Kim Do-eup, Kang Min-kook, and Kang Sun-young, appeared to express deep concerns regarding farmland management and the operation method of the rural community corporation.

On the same day, 8 PPP lawmakers also broke ranks during the vote on the partial amendment bill of the Framework Act on Resource Circulation. Reps. Kang Seung-gyu, Yoo Sang-beom, Kim Mi-ae, Shin Dong-wook, Kim Eun-hye, Park Soo-young, Kim Seung-soo, and Lee Chul-kyu participated in the opposition. This rebellion against the party whip is seen as a result of lawmakers直面ing the burden that environmental regulations, such as the mandatory recycling of waste, could impose on the real economy. The consecutive departure of veteran lawmakers serving their second term or more suggests that the leadership's ability to gather opinions during future intra-party policy consultations will face a major test.

Institutionalization of Judicial Risks and Prospects for Bipartisan Legislation

The National Election Commission Special Counsel Act, intended to investigate the truth regarding incompetence in election management—such as the shortage of ballot papers and errors in the election computer system—passed the National Assembly through an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, allowing for an investigation lasting up to 170 days.

The political circle is rapidly processing key bills, including the revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, under the pretext of realizing judicial justice and dispersing investigative powers. The revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, which completely abolishes the direct investigation authority of prosecutors, was put to a plenary vote despite the opposition's long filibuster tactics. The ruling and opposition parties also successively put fast-tracked bills to a vote, accelerating the legislative pace. Although the Reform Party and other third parties opposed, the overwhelming support the NEC Special Counsel Act received—with a majority of seated legislators voting in favor—is expected to contribute to restoring trust in the system.

Previously, Park Sang-yong, the floor leader of the RKP, sharply refuted specific arguments for amnesty, calling them the "destruction of a rule-of-law state." It was a clear warning against the unrestrained abuse of amnesty. Han Byeong-do, the interim floor leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), also met with Kim Jong-hoon, the leader of the Progressive Party, and promised bipartisan cooperation for livelihood recovery and reform legislation. This is because a consensus is expanding that bills related to livelihoods and education must be processed through bipartisan cooperation, even amid major political conflicts.

In conclusion, the intent to monitor government policy failures and expand budgets for youth and education is expected to serve as a positive signal for the macroeconomy and industrial ecosystem in the future. The internal turmoil revealed by votes breaking from the party line may increase short-term political uncertainty. However, in the medium to long term, it is evaluated as a democratic deliberation process that adjusts voices from various sectors. The National Assembly needs to focus on alleviating market anxiety by strictly conducting budget reviews and policy legislation during the remaining session. If these efforts prove effective, they will lead to the fruition of increased efficiency in national finances and the restoration of the public education system.