Key lawmakers of the Saenuri Party have urged the National Assembly speaker to exercise his authority to bring ruling-party backed bills to the floor.
 
Amid the opposition party's refusal to cast votes, Deputy National Assembly Speaker Jeong Kab-yoon called for the passage of labor reform and economy-related bills as well as determining electoral constituencies for next year’s general election. 
 
During a meeting of senior Saenuri lawmakers, Jeong asked the speaker to use his own authority to submit the bills to the plenary session. He argued that now is the time to consider legislative options granted in times of national emergency.
 
Saenuri Supreme Council member Rep. Rhee In-je said the assembly speaker must make a decision, claiming that the current crisis must be overcome within this year’s extra session.
 
The head of the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Future Planning, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, Hong Moon-jong, said the economy is in a difficult state that is close to a quasi-state of war due to deadlock on the economy-related bills.
 
Appearing on a radio program, Hong said he believes that the National Assembly speaker can exercise his power to present bills in line with a political judgment in extremely difficult circumstances.