Yeouido 25 Hours — July 12, 2026 Edition
The People Power Party is mired in internal conflict following their defeat in the June 3 local elections, while the Democratic Party of Korea pushes ahead with unilateral assembly formation, deepening the legislative gridlock. Although former lawmaker Chae Yi-bai has been appointed as Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, the ongoing dispute over standing committee chair positions keeps the National Assembly in a paralyzed state.
Yeouido 25 Hours — July 12, 2026
Today's Political Headlines
People Power Party struggles to find exit strategy amid internal strife
- What's happening?: It has been over a month since the People Power Party (PPP) suffered a defeat in the June 3 local elections, yet the party remains divided on how to move forward. According to an Yonhap News report on the 11th, the party has failed to present a concrete recovery plan despite a continued slide in approval ratings.
- Why it matters: The lack of leadership in the governing party weakens its ability to check the legislative agenda. With the PPP boycotting National Assembly activities over the distribution of committee chairs, the internal lack of unity is expected to negatively impact their ability to regain control of the political landscape.
Ahn Cheol-soo and Han Dong-hoon clash over court testimony
- What's happening?: On the 12th, PPP lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo engaged in a public spat with party leader Han Dong-hoon regarding his recent courtroom testimony concerning the December 3 martial law declaration. Ahn has been actively countering internal party criticism, escalating the tension.
- Why it matters: Infighting between core party figures makes unity increasingly difficult. With the legal issues surrounding the December 3 incident still unfolding, the conflicting public stances of key party members could lead to a drop in the PPP’s external credibility.
Floor leaders signal potential for "pre-Constitution Day" re-negotiations
- What's happening?: On the 9th, Han Byung-do, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), and PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik met under the mediation of National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik. A July 12 report by the Busan Ilbo suggests that re-negotiations are likely to gain momentum before Constitution Day.
- Why it matters: This meeting is seen as a potential breakthrough after talks on assembly organization had completely stalled. The parties appear to be searching for a way to resume negotiations ahead of Constitution Day (July 17), hinting at the possibility of ending the "half-parliament" crisis.
Former lawmaker Chae Yi-bai named Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister
- What's happening?: On the 10th, the government announced the appointment of former lawmaker Chae Yi-bai as the new Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, according to a Newsis report. Chae is expected to use his political experience to help stabilize state administration.
- Why it matters: The Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister plays a crucial role in policy coordination and communication with the National Assembly. Appointing someone with deep legislative experience is seen as a government move to improve relations with the parliament amidst the current partisan conflict.
National Assembly Trends
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Discussions on Criminal Procedure Act amendment begin: On the 8th, the Democratic Party of Korea initiated discussions to amend the Criminal Procedure Act, with the goal of abolishing supplementary investigation powers. Deliberations are underway in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's subcommittee, but progress is being delayed by PPP opposition.
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Standing committees in full swing: Driven by the Democratic Party of Korea's approach to assembly organization, several standing committees, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, are proceeding with their agendas. Despite the PPP boycott, committee activities are moving forward with DPK leadership.
Blue House and Government
- 2025 Diplomatic White Paper published: On the 10th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the 2025 Diplomatic White Paper, highlighting achievements in pragmatic, national-interest-centered diplomacy. Key records include U.S. support for nuclear-powered submarine construction and peaceful enrichment/reprocessing rights during the ROK-U.S. summit, as well as President Xi Jinping's first state visit to South Korea in 11 years.
Partisan Conflict
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Blame game over assembly gridlock: The governing party insists that "normalizing the assembly is necessary to pass livelihood bills," while the opposition maintains that "the issue of distributing the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair must be resolved first."
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Persistent gap in party approval ratings: According to a Gallup Korea poll (July 7-9), the DPK holds a 42% approval rating compared to 24% for the PPP, maintaining a 18%p gap. With the PPP's unfavorability rating reaching 69%, the party faces an urgent need to restore public trust.
Upcoming Schedule
- July 17 (Thu): Constitution Day — Expected to be a focal point for re-negotiations. The parties are likely treating the time leading up to this as a window to resolve assembly organization issues.
- Continued Standing Committee meetings: DPK-led committee activities, including subcommittee legislative reviews, will continue, focusing on key bills like the Criminal Procedure Act amendment.
- Oversight and Policy Coordination: Enhanced communication with the National Assembly is expected following the launch of the new Prime Minister's Chief of Staff system.
Reporter's Perspective
While the parties maintain a "half-parliament" state due to the assembly organization dispute, there are signs of potential re-negotiations ahead of Constitution Day. The PPP’s delayed recovery and falling approval ratings seem to be putting pressure on the party to compromise. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea is unilaterally pushing key bills, and President Lee Jae-myung’s approval rating remains stable at 53%. The next two weeks—centered around Constitution Day—will be the most critical period to watch to see if the parties can reach a deal or if the stalemate will drag on.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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