A power struggle between South Korea’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the opposition Democratic Party (DP) over parliamentary committee leadership paralyzed the 22nd National Assembly for nearly a month.

The PPP started boycotting key committee sessions in late May, protesting the DP’s monopolization of two powerful organs: the judiciary and steering committees. The dispute also included the Science and Broadcasting Committee, which holds significant policy implications.

With its parliamentary majority, the DP insisted on securing 11 out of the 18 standing committees. Conversely, the PPP argued that convention dictates the second-largest party should chair the judiciary committee and the