Relations are cooling rapidly between the presidential office and opposition parties following the passage last week of a bill enabling parliamentary committees to open hearings more frequently.
The bill allows a committee to hold hearings on any matter under its jurisdiction if a majority of its members agree to do so. Up until now, a committee has only been able to resolve to hold hearings on “important” matters.
The revision effectively enables the two opposition parties -- The Minjoo Party of Korea and the People’s Party -- to organize a hearing on anything the government does, as they control a majority of seats in each committee of the new National Assembly that begins its term on May 30.
The presidential office and the ruling Saenuri Party are opposed to the bill on the grounds it could paralyze the operation of the administration.
If the two opposition parties decide to hold hearings frequently on state affairs, they argue, government officials would not be able to focus on their work.
Furthermore, they note, officials would feel intimidated if they have to frequently disclose their work to lawmakers at hearings.
These concerns are understandable, given that parliamentary hearings have often been operated in an abnormal way. Opposition parties have tried to exploit hearings to promote partisan agendas rather than uncover new facts.
Lawmakers, especially those from opposition parties, often bullied government officials and business leaders instead of hearing their testimony. Some even used the hearings as an opportunity for self-promotion.
If hearings are held in the same fashion as before, they could have considerable side effects. For these reasons, Park is reportedly considering exercising her presidential veto against the bill.
But scrutinizing the work of the government is one of parliament’s main duties. Hearings will help lawmakers keep closer tabs on the government.
Park is ill-positioned to reject the bill. The voice of the people expressed through the April general election is that the government should cooperate with opposition parties in handling state affairs.
Furthermore, even if she vetoes the bill, her decision could be overridden by parliament, as legislators from the ruling party’s nonmainstream faction are not on her side anymore.
Parliamentary hearings are a double-edged sword. They can make the government more accountable and parliament more productive, if the two opposition parties operate them prudently.
But if they abuse their new power and attempt to hold hearings on every single issue, they could bog down the government.
To ease concerns about increased parliamentary checks against the executive branch, Woo Sang-ho, floor leader of the Minjoo Party, pledged not to abuse parliamentary hearings. He should keep his promise.
