Members of the National Assembly continue the practice of overseas trips at the end of their terms, funded by taxpayers’ money, a tradition that persists into the 21st National Assembly. According to an investigation by The Chosunilbo, between the day after the general election on April 10 and the conclusion of the 21st National Assembly on the 29th of this month, members have either embarked on or are scheduled to undertake at least 15 overseas trips, which are neither necessary nor urgent. During this period, out of 296 members, 57 (19.3%) take at least one overseas trip.
It is estimated that the taxpayer money used for these 15 overseas trips will exceed 2 billion won. Additionally, from January until just before the recent general election, 41 members took 12 overseas trips, costing more than 2 billion won. Despite being described as “interparliamentary diplomacy,” criticism such as “graduation trip” or “end-of-term vacation” is emerging both inside and outside the National Assembly. This year, the National Assembly has allocated a record budget of 20.276 billion won for members’ overseas trips.
However, the 21st National Assembly is recording dismal performance in its core legislative duties. Since its opening in May 2020 until today, a total of 25,830 bills have been proposed, but only 9,454 (36.6%) of them have been processed, leaving the remaining 16,376 bills untreated. Bills in untreated status mean that members have not made any decision on whether to pass, reject, or merge them with other bills for processing. The bill processing rate in the 19th National Assembly was 41.7%, and the lowest in history was the 20th National Assembly with 36.4%.
Even bills that are deemed nationally necessary and agreed upon by both ruling and opposition parties are lying dormant in the National Assembly. Three special laws needed to establish facilities for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants have been pending in the National Assembly Standing Committee for over two years. If the legislation for these bills is delayed, the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant and Kori Nuclear Power Plant will be unable to even temporarily store high-level radioactive waste starting from 2031, and the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant from 2032, necessitating the shutdown of operational nuclear power plants.
