As the newly elected 22nd National Assembly settles its role, a disturbing trend has emerged: complete legislative inertia. During its first month since its May 30 inauguration, the Assembly has convened only three plenary sessions and passed six bills, signaling an unprecedented decline in legislative efficiency.

This stagnation represents a worrying trend in South Korea's parliamentary function. The current Assembly's performance pales in comparison to its immediate predecessors, which themselves were not paragons of efficiency.

The 21st Assembly, for instance, managed seven plenary sessions and passed 40 bills in its initial period, while the 20th Assembly — also criticized for its ineffectiveness — still outperformed the current body with eight sessions and 15 bills passed.

The roots of this governmental impasse are multifaceted. First, political warfare has taken precedence over addressing the needs of citizens. For over a month since its inception, two parties have conflicted over the leadership allocation of standing committees. The impasse, which paralyzed the legislative processes, centered on the PPP's insistence on controlling the two key committees — a demand the DPK refused to accommodate.

Even after a nominal resolution to the committee dispute, the Assembly's focus has remained squarely on political maneuvering. The opposition parties swiftly passed a bill to launch a special investigation into the death of a young marine and allegations of presidential interference in the case — a move that prompted the PPP to resort to filibusters and boycotts, effectively grinding legislative activity to a........

© The Korea Times