21st National Assembly Chairman Park Byeong-seug. (Photos: The National Assembly)

The 21st National Assembly opened on July 16 following a 47-day hiatus since the start of its official term, with Speaker Park Byung-seug pledging to make the National Assembly a “parliament for the people.”

The current National Assembly has been marred by confrontation between ruling and opposition sides, delaying its opening the most since 1987.

The 21st National Assembly held an opening ceremony in the afternoon of the day in which parliamentarians took an oath and heard President Moon-in deliver a speech.

Earlier, Rep. Jeon Hae-chul of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea was elected as chairman of the Intelligence Committee at the plenary session in the morning.

The voting took place with members from the United Future Party and People’s Party in absentia.

The Justice Party attended the plenary session, but did not cast votes. The election of the chairman of the Intelligence Committee led to the ruling party’s sweep as chair of all 18 parliamentary committees.

Speaker Park delivered his opening speech in which he stressed a “parliament for the people.”

“People’s order is clear toward the 21st National Assembly: a parliament attaching top priority to people’s livelihoods, and a parliament unfurling the future,” he said.

Speaker Park proposed a parliament guarding people, a parliament working together with people, and a parliament opening people’s tomorrow.

He called for making the National Assembly a furnace uniting people’s hearts.

In his speech, President Moon called for a restoration of the bipartisan collaboration that failed in the previous parliament.

The president urged the new parliament to speed up legislation, such as the enactment of three real-estate bills designed to stem speculation and the designation of the head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the elevation of elevating the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC) to the tentatively named Disease Control and Prevention Administration.

The Democratic Party has demanded the early inauguration of CIO to accomplish prosecution reform, but the United Future Party has put up opposition, citing it unconstitutional.

(from left) Chmn. Park Kwang-on of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee,; Yoo Ki-hong of the Education Committee,; Chmn. Lee Kai-ho of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee,; Chairperson Jin Sun-mee of the Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Committee.

(from left) Chmn. Do Jong-hwan of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee,; Chairperson Song Ok-joo of Environment and Labor Committee,; Chairperson Seo Young-kyo of the Public Administration and Security Committee,; Chmn. Jung Sung-ho of the Special Committee on Budget & Accounts.

Here is a list of the heads of 18 committees.

They are Chmn. Kim Tae-nyeon of the House Steering Committee;

Yun Ho-jung of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee;

Chmn. Youn Kwan-suk of the National Policy Committee;

Chmn. Yoon Hu-duk of the Strategy and Finance Committee;

Chmn. Yoon Ki-hong of the Education Committee;

Chmn. Park Kwang-on of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee;

Chmn. Song Young-gil of the Foreign Affairs and Unification;

Chmn. Min Hong-chul of National Defense Committee;

Chairperson Seo Young-kyo of the Public Administration and Security Committee;

Chmn. Do Jong-hwan of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee;

Chmn. Lee Kai-ho of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee;

Chmn. Lee Hack-young of the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs, and Startups Committee;

Chairperson Han Jeong-ae of the Health and Welfare Committee;

Chairperson Song Ok-joo of Environment and Labor Committee;

Chairperson Jin Sun-mee of the Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Committee;

Chmn. Jeon Hae-cheol of the Intelligence Committee,;

Chmn. Jung Sung-ho of the Special Committee on Budget & Accounts,;

Chairperson Jung Choun-sook of the Gender Equality and Family Committee.