August 4 Legislative Report: Reps. Jang Chun-jip and Kang Dae-chul of Rebuilding Korea Party Push for Increased Education Budget and Teacher Authority

Legislative Trends for Increasing Education Budget and Strengthening Teacher Authority

U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider recently strongly emphasized the need for the efficient execution and increase of education sector budgets. According to media-scan, as a member of the Education Committee, Schneider has been deeply involved in the review process of relevant bills, focusing on gathering opinions from various stakeholders. These movements aim not merely at a simple budget expansion but at a fundamental structural improvement of public education policies. Similar discussions on education legislation are actively unfolding in the National Assembly.

Since the opening of the 22nd National Assembly, Rebuilding Korea Party Rep. Jang Chun-jip has raised sharp questions about pending issues during the parliamentary inspections of the Ministry of Education and its affiliated agencies. As a member of the Budget and Accounts Special Committee and the Education Committee, he continues to call for the efficient execution and increase of education policy budgets. In particular, he is actively participating in discussions on amendments to laws that strengthen the protection of teachers' rights to guarantee legitimate educational activities, leading the way in establishing institutional safety nets. Furthermore, he is understood to be preparing a bill to enhance information and communication accessibility to resolve the digital divide in educational settings, which is expected to have a positive ripple effect on the related educational technology industry should the bill pass.

Analysis of Responses to Complex Crises and Intra-Party Voting Defections

Rebuilding Korea Party Rep. Kang Dae-chul also participated in education budget deliberations at the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Special Committee and showed deep interest in a bill that would exempt teachers from child abuse charges when exercising legitimate life guidance. This is expected to contribute to creating a safe educational environment in conjunction with discussions on legal revisions for the prevention and eradication of school violence. Reform Party Rep. Song Jin-young also pointed out the problems of the current curriculum and suggested improvements during an Education Committee meeting, stating that he is preparing to propose an amendment to the 'Framework Act on Education.' Rep. Song is also raising his voice for the enactment of a 'Family Care Support Strengthening Act' to resolve the low birth rate issue, emphasizing the necessity of comprehensive legislation that combines education and welfare.

The disagreements and fissures emerging within political parties during the legislative process are also key points of analysis. During the plenary session on June 18, 2026, 10 lawmakers of the People Power Party defied the party line and voted against the alternative bill for the partial amendment of the Korea Rural Community Corporation and Agricultural Land Management Fund Act. This defiance, which includes key members such as Sung Il-jong, Lee Chul-kyu, Park Su-young, and Kang Seon-yeong, is interpreted as the result of a complex interplay of regional interests and policy concerns. On the same day, eight members, including Yoo Sang-beom, Kim Mi-ae, and Shin Dong-wook, opposed the passage of the partial amendment to the Framework Act on Resource Saving and Recycling Promotion, exposing the difficulty of coordinating internal opinions. These successive defections suggest the need for a flexible legislative system that allows for the representation of constituency-specific characteristics and individual political beliefs, rather than enforcing a monolithic party line.

Overhaul of Judicial System and Ripple Effects on Market and Industry

The exercise of legislative power and changes in the judicial system can lead to macroscopic political risks. The partial amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, passed at the Cabinet meeting on the 4th, marks a groundbreaking turning point in judicial history by completely abolishing the prosecutor's direct investigation powers and supplementary investigation powers. President Lee Jae-myung, who presided over the Cabinet meeting that day, defined the measure to completely separate investigation and prosecution as the first step toward normalizing the abnormal criminal justice system. Despite the opposition's strong demand to exercise a veto, the President determined that there were no serious unconstitutional concerns sufficient to negate the National Assembly's legislative authority and approved the original bill. The amended Criminal Procedure Act is scheduled to take effect on October 2, alongside the launch of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency.

The revision of bills responding to complex crises to support households with at-risk children is also becoming an important axis of parliamentary administration. The purpose is to discover vulnerable classes suffering from housing instability and care gaps early and provide customized welfare services. Members of the Budget and Accounts Special Committee, including People Power Party Rep. Song Young-ho, are strictly monitoring the transparent execution of the national budget, guiding the efficient distribution of these social costs. The massive institutional overhaul in the education and judicial sectors is expected to trigger widespread structural changes in the public sector as well as private educational institutions and related legal markets. It is expected that the legislative intent will be fully realized only when accompanied by financial support to strengthen the independent investigation capabilities of judicial police officers and to improve the treatment of teachers.