Overview

• Democratic Party leaders outlined a package of about 224 bills for the new Assembly session, including a Government Organization Act amendment expected to propose abolishing the Prosecutors’ Office, with a late‑September target for passage.
• Rep. Han Jeoung-ae said the measures are at mixed procedural stages and will be submitted as a coordinated package after final consultations with the government.
• The National Assembly passed the Yellow Envelope labor amendment, effective in March, expanding who counts as an employer, granting subcontracted workers union rights, and curbing excessive damage claims over strikes.
• The government proposed a 2026 budget of 728 trillion won, up 8.1 percent, with funding prioritized for AI and defense such as early procurement of 50,000 GPUs and higher defense outlays.
• After meetings in Tokyo and Washington, including a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Lee plans briefings for party leaders as his security adviser cautions that North Korea shows little interest in talks and that Kim Jong-un’s attendance at APEC is unlikely.