Lee Jae-myung, leader of Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party, speaks during an upper house meeting at the National Assembly, Seoul, Dec. 18, Yonhap reported.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) urged Acting President Han Dak-son on Wednesday not to oppose six controversial laws passed by the opposition last month.
The government plans to hold an extraordinary cabinet meeting until Thursday to review four agriculture bills, the National Assembly Bill and the National Assembly Evidence Review Bill.
If Han does not ask the National Assembly to reconsider the bills by Saturday, they will go through the rules.
“We will warn Acting President Han,” DPK leader Park Chandae said at a meeting of the Supreme Council. “Give up your right of veto.”
Han should not confuse his position as acting president with the president, Park added.
One of the key bills being reviewed is the Grain Management Act, which would require the government to buy surplus rice to stabilize prices during market fluctuations.
A similar law was vetoed and repealed by President Yoon Suk-yeol in March 2023.
The acting president faces a crucial decision on Dec. 3 over Yoon’s declaration of short-lived martial law and the rejection of two opposition-led bills against First Lady Kim Kyung-hee. (Yonhap)