National Assembly of South Korea
Overview
The National Assembly of South Korea is a unicameral legislature established under the Constitution of South Korea, serving as the representative body of the people and a key axis of national decision-making. The Assembly exercises extensive powers, including legislation, deliberation and approval of budgets, oversight of the executive branch, and formation of constitutional institutions, forming the institutional foundation of democracy. Since the first Constitutional Assembly in 1948, it has evolved over more than 70 years alongside changes in Korean politics, and currently consists of 300 members (253 constituency seats and 47 proportional representation seats).
Main Content
1. Composition and Elections
Members of the National Assembly are elected through direct popular vote for a four-year term. Constituency members are elected under a single-member district system (one member per district), while proportional representation members are allocated based on each party's vote share. Since the 22nd National Assembly election in 2024, a semi-linked proportional representation system has been maintained, but discussions on institutional improvement continue due to issues with satellite parties. The Speaker and Deputy Speakers of the National Assembly are elected through a secret ballot among members, with a term of two years.
2. Major Powers
- Legislative Power: Submission, deliberation, and resolution of bills. Handles both government-submitted bills and member-initiated bills.
- Fiscal Power: Deliberation and approval of the budget, review of settlement of accounts, and approval of fund operations. The Assembly has strong authority to reduce the budget, but increases require government consent.
- Oversight of the Executive: Annual state audits (during regular sessions), state investigations, impeachment motions, questioning rights (interpellations of the government), and personnel confirmation hearings.
- Formation of Constitutional Institutions: Consent rights for key constitutional institution heads such as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, President of the Constitutional Court, and Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection.
- Consent to Treaty Conclusion and Ratification: Assembly consent is required for the effectiveness of diplomatic treaties.
3. Sessions and Proceedings
The National Assembly operates through regular sessions (annually from September 1 to December 9, 100 days) and extraordinary sessions (upon request by the President or the Speaker). Plenary sessions are established with the attendance of at least one-fifth of members, and resolutions are generally passed with a majority of members present and a majority in favor. Bills are deliberated in standing committees (18 standing committees) before being submitted to the plenary session. Voting is generally by roll call, using an electronic voting system.
4. Standing Committees and Special Committees
Eighteen standing committees (e.g., Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Strategy and Finance Committee, Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee) review bills and budgets under the jurisdiction of each ministry. Special committees are temporarily established to address specific issues (e.g., low birth rate and aging, political reform). Committee chairpersons are allocated through consultations among negotiating groups (with 20 or more members), and conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties can escalate into 'fast-track' clashes.
5. Historical Evolution
- First to Fourth Republics (1948–1979): The role of the National Assembly was limited under authoritarian regimes. During the Yusin Constitution period, the President appointed one-third of Assembly members.
- Fifth Republic (1980–1987): Under the Chun Doo-hwan regime, the Assembly functioned only formally.
- Sixth Republic (1987–present): After democratization in 1987, the Assembly's powers were substantially strengthened. Since the 2000s, intensifying ruling-opposition conflicts have led to repeated 'Assembly paralysis'.
- Recent: In the 2020s, declining trust in the Assembly has emerged as an issue, prompting discussions on reforms such as abolishing member privileges (limiting immunity from arrest and reducing immunity from prosecution) and enhancing legislative efficiency.
6. Limitations and Criticisms of the National Assembly
- Extreme Ruling-Opposition Conflict: Delays in bill processing, abuse of 'filibusters' (unlimited debate), and boycotts of plenary sessions have led to functional paralysis.
- Controversy over Member Privileges: Criticism that immunity from arrest and immunity from prosecution are exploited as means to evade judicial judgment.
- Concentration of Party Nomination Power: Forced voting along party lines makes it difficult for individual members to vote according to their conscience.
- Low Trust: In opinion polls such as Gallup Korea, trust in the National Assembly remains at 10–20%, ranking among the lowest alongside political parties and the media.
Latest Trends
With the launch of the 22nd National Assembly in 2024, a minority ruling party and majority opposition structure (Democratic Party of Korea 171 seats, People Power Party 108 seats, etc.) has been established. This has emphasized the importance of cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties, but conflicts over the speed of bill processing and personnel confirmation hearings have surfaced from the outset. As of 2025, key issues include:
- Legislative Activity Reform: Amid controversy over the effectiveness of the National Assembly Advancement Act (mandating consensus-based processing), discussions are underway on improving the 'filibuster' system and enhancing standing committee efficiency.
- Digital Transformation: Promotion of digitalization in the Assembly, including the introduction of AI-based bill analysis systems and expansion of electronic proceedings.
- Expansion of Public Participation: Reorganization of the Assembly's observation and petition systems, and strengthening direct democracy elements through activation of a 'citizen legislative platform'.
- Strengthening Member Ethics: Granting substantive authority to the Ethics Advisory Committee and proposing bills to strengthen disciplinary standards for members.
- Redistricting of Constituencies: Redistricting work reflecting population changes is underway ahead of the 2026 local elections.
Related Topics
- [[Constitution of South Korea]]
- [[Member of the National Assembly]]
- [[Legislative Process]]
- [[Political Parties]]
- [[Electoral System]]
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