South Korea’s next parliament will lead the nation’s legislation for the next four years starting June with hefty tasks on political, economic and security fronts.

The polling result that shrunk the majority hold of the ruling party and saw the rise of a new minority opposition party heralded the start of a tripartite political frame here, kindling expectations for a fresh breeze in the conservative-dominated legislature.

But the new National Assembly, stuck between domestic socioeconomic distresses and increasing North Korean military threats, is facing a turbulent term ahead.
 

The current 19th National Assembly has displayed the worst-ever legislative efficiency.

Its average approval rate for submitted bills stood at 40.2 percent, down from 44.4 percent in the previous term and continuing a constant fall from the 73 percent of the 15th parliament.

Also, the average processing period per bill reached a record-high of 517 days, up from 485.9 days in the previous term, 413.9 in the 17th, 272.9 in the 16th and 210.1 days back in the 15th.

Blaming such inefficiency on the restricted power of majority by the controversial National Assembly Advancement Act, the ruling conservative Saenuri Party had vowed to revise the law introduced in 2012 to lower the three-fifths quorum to a 50 percent majority.

The fortified quorum clause is what has kept the ruling party from pushing ahead with bills despite its 152-seat majority. It was also for such reason that the Saenuri Party, when the opposition division was reaching its climax, wishfully targeted sweeping at least 180 seats.

But the revision has now become less plausible due to the Saenuri Party’s failure to safeguard its parliamentary lead, giving way to the opposition camp.

The advancement bill is currently awaiting the decision of the Constitutional Court, which pledged to judge the issue before the current parliamentary term closes in late May.

Regardless of the quorum revision, President Park Geun-hye and the ruling camp are desperate to push ahead with pending economic bills.

“The government has propelled the service industry bill and labor reform bills, aiming to create jobs and economic growth, yet such efforts have been blocked by the parliament,” the president said in a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, adding pressure just a day before polling.

The tug-of-war on economic bills is expected to increase further in the incoming parliament in light of worsening outlooks.

The International Monetary Fund said Tuesday that it downscaled South Korea’s economic forecast by 0.2 percentage points to 2.7 percent, citing the slowdown in neighboring China’s economy.

Also, the nation’s overall employment for those aged 25-54 stood at 75.9 percent last year, lower than the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average, data showed.

Another key challenge is the ever-increasing military threats from North Korea and tricky relations with world powers.

While the parties are univocal in the need to sanction North Korea and strengthen the alliance with the U.S. following the North’s nuclear test and long-range rocket launch earlier this year, their stances differ on various inter-Korean, foreign affairs and defense issues.

The opposition supports rapprochement in dealing with the reclusive regime, while the Saenuri Party underscores seclusion and pressure. Center-leaning People’s Party also supports resuming the suspended inter-Korean industrial park in Gaeseong.

Some of the thorny issues are also expected to involve the anticipated deployment by the U.S. of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system here. The plan is opposed by liberals who question its military efficacy and high cost, as well as the security dilemma it would pose such as in relations with China.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)