August 18 Legislative Report: Rep. Hwang Myeong-pil of Rebuilding Korea Party Pushes for School Sexual Harassment Regulation Reform and Government Reorganization Bills

Legislative Activity Centered on Education Committee... Revisions Led by Rep. Hwang Myeong-pil of Rebuilding Korea Party

Rep. Hwang Myeong-pil of the Rebuilding Korea Party, who serves as a floor leader for the Education Committee in the first half of the 22nd National Assembly, has led the revision of the 'Regulations on the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Harassment in Schools' to improve the prevention and processing procedures for sexual harassment and violence within schools. It was confirmed that fellow party member Rep. Kim Seong-seop was also elected as an Education Committee floor leader, exercising influence over the committee's operations. This is interpreted as the Rebuilding Korea Party securing significant influence in setting the Education Committee's agenda early in the parliamentary session.

According to the National Assembly Open Information Portal (open.assembly.go.kr), multiple members of the Rebuilding Korea Party, including Hwang Myeong-pil, Kim Seong-seop, Park Jong-yul, Park Chul-eung, and Jin Chung-mo, hold dual memberships on the Education Committee and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. This arrangement, which encompasses both education policy and financial scrutiny, creates a structure where bill reviews and budget allocations can be pursued in a coordinated manner. In addition to his Education Committee activities, Rep. Hwang Myeong-pil is reported to have been conducting preliminary work, such as visiting the National Assembly Library and participating in policy debates, to grasp the current state of education budgets and policies.

The Nexus Between Government Reorganization Bills and Education/Childcare Legislation

Rep. Hwang Myeong-pil also co-sponsored bills related to government reorganization, including the restructuring of the Presidential Office and the establishment of a transition committee. It is noteworthy that two distinct legislative streams—improving the response system for school sexual violence and reorganizing the government apparatus—originated from a single lawmaker. This is because effective responses to human rights violations in schools require the backing of the Ministry of Education and relevant organizations in terms of structure and manpower. The discussion of administrative system reforms to handle processing procedures, running parallel to the bill proposal, is interpreted as a design intended to ensure the regulation revision does not remain a mere declaration.

The legislative trends of other members within the Education Committee show a similar direction. Rep. Jin Chung-mo participated in proposing school meal improvement amendments as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act revision and co-sponsored amendments to the Infant and Child Care Act to expand the age limit for parental allowances. He also represented a bill to reform the qualification system for admissions officers and other college entrance professionals, continuously raising issues regarding unfair admission environments for examinees. Rep. Park Jong-yul proposed measures to strengthen the protection of children and adolescents online through amendments to the Information and Communications Network Act, and also represented a bill to amend the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act to conclude a treaty with Ukraine.

Budget Review, R&D Issues, and the Implications of Breakaway Votes

There were distinct points of contention during the budget review process. As a member of the Education Committee's Budget and Accounts Subcommittee, Rep. Kim Seong-seop focused on increasing budgets for school meals and strengthening public education during the review of the Ministry of Education's 2025 budget. According to National Assembly committee minutes, Rep. Park Chul-eung repeatedly demanded a re-examination of the government's plan to cut research and development (R&D) budgets, citing it as an 'investment for the nation's future.' Coupled with his participation in bills supporting financial independence for national universities and laboratory safety management, R&D budget recovery appears to have established itself as a core issue permeating the Education Committee.

Breakaway votes within the ruling party are also expected to act as variables in the legislative landscape. The Public Health Management Act amendment, processed at the plenary session on July 23, 2026, saw 38 votes in favor and 7 against from the People Power Party, with 7 members—including Kim Hee-jung, Kwak Kyu-taek, and Park Su-min—voting against the party line. Previously, on June 18, 10 members broke ranks in the alternative bill for the Korea Rural Community Corporation and Agricultural Land Management Fund Act, and 8 members, including Kim Eun-hye and Lee Chul-kyu, voted against the Resource Saving and Recycling Promotion Act amendment on the same day. In the alternative bill for the Regional Love Gift Card Act (May 7), 3 members broke away. The fact that Rep. Park Su-yeong participated in the opposition in all four cases suggests this stems from a consistent policy line rather than simple conscientious voting.

The concentration of intra-party defections on bills with significant local and agricultural interests or recycling implications has major implications for the processing of future education-related bills. If agendas with divided regional public opinion, such as school meals or public education budgets, are brought up, the scale of breakaway voting is likely to expand. However, as opposition members of the Education Committee continue to introduce reform-oriented bills, such defections on issues requiring inter-party cooperation could serve as a starting point for finding a middle ground.

Future Outlook: Effectiveness of Regulation Revision is Key

For the revision of school sexual harassment and violence prevention regulations to lead to actual changes in the field rather than just legislative changes, the placement of dedicated personnel and budgetary support must follow. The fact that the Education Committee leadership also holds positions on the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts makes this linkage structurally possible. Rep. Kim Seong-seop's representation of a bill to cut National Assembly member stipends alongside ruling party members, and his push for public healthcare expansion with fellow Rebuilding Korea Party members, demonstrates that room for cross-party cooperation remains open.

Regarding the government reorganization bills, significant adjustments are anticipated before passage at the plenary session, as they involve constitutional issues such as the structure of the Presidential Office and the legislating of the transition committee. The order in which these revisions are raised during the regular inspection of state administration and the regular National Assembly session, and whether the practice of breakaway voting is repeated on major issues, are expected to serve as key indicators for determining the legislative landscape in the second half of the year.