National Assembly (South Korea)

National Assembly (South Korea)
Name	National Assembly
Native name	국회, 國會
Legislature	20th National Assembly
House type	Unicameral
Body	South Korea
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Kim Jin-pyo
Party1	Democratic Party of Korea
Election1	4 July 2022
Leader2 type	Deputy Speakers
Leader2	Kim Young-joo, Chung Jin-suk
Party2	Democratic Party of Korea, People Power Party
Election2	4 July 2022
Members	300
Political groups1	Government (108), People Power Party (108), Opposition (175), Democratic Party of Korea (168), Justice Party (6), Progressive Party (1), Independents (17), Independents (17)
Last election1	10 April 2024
Meeting place	National Assembly Building, Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul
Website	https://korea.assembly.go.kr

National Assembly (South Korea). The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is the unicameral national legislature of South Korea. It is composed of 300 members who are elected for four-year terms, with its primary seat located on Yeouido in Seoul. The Assembly holds the legislative power as stipulated by the Constitution of South Korea, enacting laws, approving the national budget, and conducting oversight of the executive branch.

History

The first iteration of a modern legislature was the Provisional Government's Provisional Legislative Assembly formed in Shanghai in 1919. Following the liberation of Korea in 1945 and the establishment of the First Republic under Syngman Rhee, the Constituent National Assembly was inaugurated in 1948 under the supervision of the United Nations. Its early years were marked by political turmoil, including the Korean War and the authoritarian rule under Rhee, which culminated in the April Revolution of 1960. Subsequent regimes, including those of Park Chung-hee and the Fifth Republic under Chun Doo-hwan, saw the Assembly's powers severely curtailed. The modern, fully democratic legislature was restored following the June Democratic Struggle of 1987 and the subsequent constitutional revision, which established the current Sixth Republic.

Composition and election

The Assembly consists of 300 members, known as Members of the National Assembly (MNAs), elected for four-year terms. Elections are governed by the Public Official Election Act. The electoral system is a mixed-member majoritarian system: 253 members are elected from single-member constituencies via first-past-the-post voting, while 47 are allocated through a parallel proportional representation system based on party votes. Major political parties represented include the Democratic Party of Korea, the People Power Party, and the Justice Party. The National Election Commission oversees all elections.

Powers and functions

The Assembly's constitutional powers are extensive. It holds the exclusive authority to pass and amend statutes, which are then promulgated by the President of South Korea. It exercises critical financial control by deliberating on and approving the national budget bill presented by the executive. The Assembly conducts oversight of the administration through parliamentary investigations, audit requests to the Board of Audit and Inspection, and the confirmation hearings for high-level officials including the Prime Minister and Chief Justice. It also has the power to impeach the President or other officials, as seen in the 2016 impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.

Legislative process

A bill can be proposed by an MNA or by the executive branch, led by the State Council. Proposed bills are first submitted to the Speaker and then referred to the relevant standing committee. Committees review the bill, hold public hearings, and may amend it before reporting it to the plenary session. Passage requires a concurrent vote of a majority of present members, with a quorum of one-half of all members. Bills related to the budget or treaties require a longer deliberation period. Once passed, the bill is sent to the government and the President for promulgation; the President may exercise a veto, which the Assembly can override with a two-thirds majority vote.

Committees

The committee system is central to the Assembly's work. There are 17 standing committees, each specializing in a policy area such as Legislation and Judiciary, Strategy and Finance, Foreign Affairs and Unification, and National Defense. These committees conduct the detailed review of legislation and oversight. Special committees can be formed for specific purposes, such as investigating major scandals or handling extraordinary bills. Committee chairpersons are allocated among parties based on their seat share, and decisions are typically made by majority vote within the committee.

Building and facilities

The main Assembly building is located on Yeouido in the Yeongdeungpo District of Seoul. The original building, completed in 1975, was replaced by a new, larger complex inaugurated in 2021 after extensive construction. The new building, designed by the architectural firm IARC, features a distinctive circular main hall symbolizing unity and includes the main assembly hall, numerous committee meeting rooms, offices for MNAs and their staff, extensive libraries, and press galleries. Key facilities also include the National Assembly Library and the National Assembly Budget Office, which provides independent analysis of fiscal policies. The compound is a recognized landmark and is often the site of public demonstrations and press conferences.

Category:National legislatures Category:Government of South Korea Category:Unicameral legislatures