Speaking on "Minti 07" on the Democratic Party's YouTube channel "Democratic Party TV" that day, Kim said of the current 20-seat requirement for forming a negotiating bloc in the National Assembly, "It has been 20 seats since the system was first introduced in 1949." He added, "The lowest the standard for a negotiating bloc has ever been is 5% of the total number of lawmakers," explaining that "in the past, 10 seats amounted to 5% because the Assembly had 200 seats at the time."
He stressed that 15 members has a stronger basis even taking into account assigning one lawmaker to each standing committee. "There are currently 14 standing committees and three concurrent standing committees, so some people talk about 14 to 17 seats," Kim said. "Other countries have similar systems, and the standard is 5%."
Still, Kim left open the possibility of discussing the size of a negotiating bloc later. "The standard for a negotiating bloc could well change in the course of discussions," he said. "It could be 15 seats, it could be 10 seats, it could be 14 seats, or it could be 17 seats."
The Rebuilding Korea Party wants the negotiating bloc threshold lowered from the current 20 seats to 10. It argues the 20-seat requirement is a remnant of the Yushin era, created under the Park Chung-hee government to raise the bar for negotiating blocs, and that a return to the pre-Yushin standard of 10 seats is appropriate. With 12 seats at present, the Rebuilding Korea Party could form a negotiating bloc on its own if the threshold were cut to 10, but would have no choice but to cooperate with the Progressive Party (four seats) and others if the bar were set at 15.
Kim also explained a luncheon — disclosed only belatedly — with Progressive Party leader Kim Jong-hoon, Social Democratic Party leader Han Chang-min and the leader of the Basic Income Party. The Basic Income Party appears to have been represented by Rep. Yong Hye-in, who was its leader as of the 1st, when the luncheon took place. All the invitees were progressive parties in the broader ruling camp; the Rebuilding Korea Party was excluded. The Rebuilding Korea Party voiced displeasure, saying it had received no advance notice. On that, Kim said, "With the Rebuilding Korea Party, we may end up merging, so the subject of discussion is different, while with the three progressive parties it is purely a simple alliance," adding, "There were things that needed to be discussed separately, so a separate meeting was arranged."
Kim also said talks on alliance and integration with progressive parties, including the Rebuilding Korea Party, are gaining speed. "Contacts had already begun the day before I raised the negotiating bloc issue," he said, noting that lawmakers assigned to each party have started making contact.
