The upcoming extraordinary session at the National Assembly is expected to be a fierce battleground between the two main parties, both of which are starting afresh with new floor leaders and looking to seize the political initiative.

The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic Party are already hinting at intense battles over controversial bills and issues. They include the latest disagreement over the scope of “ordinary wages,” some economic democratization-related bills, and the sexual assault scandal involving sacked-presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung.

Last Wednesday, the Saenuri Party elected pro-Park Choi Kyung-hwan as their new floor leader, while the Democrats chose sharp-tongued Jun Byung-hun as his counterpart. Both are considered to be firm in their principles and both have pledged to pick up their party’s political momentum.

The Saenuri Party has been criticized for basking in the presidential election victory well into the new parliamentary period and for neglecting its role as the largest parliamentary party to keep the government in check. The Democratic party has been struggling to recover from two consecutive election defeats last year, with a long-drawn-out factional dispute undercutting its role as the largest opposition party.

Outwardly, both floor leaders promised to be respectful as they held their first one-on-one talks on Sunday at the Assembly.

“The National Assembly’s role is to help those in need, and heal wounds. As floor leaders that share a unique ‘match’ by being elected the same day, we will lead the Assembly to become a productive one where both sides win,” Choi said in his opening speech, promising to be “cooperative and considerate.”

Jun, in his turn, said, “The role of politics is to swiftly act on areas that are considered to be causing the pain of the people. As we already have the diagnosis and prescriptions, it is best to pass (the bills) once we reach political consensus.”

The two parties have so far failed to pass some of the major economic democratization-related bills, on which they agree in principle but differ over the details. They include a bill to stop big businesses from abusing their control over their franchise stores, lifting the Fair Trade Commission’s sole right to report unfair practices, and a bill to allow the National Tax Service access to the information held by the financial intelligence unit for tax investigations as part of the drive to curb underground economy.

While an agreement was reached on the first two bills, their passage was delayed as the parties failed to narrow their differences on the FIU-related bill.

Although the parties agreed in theory to pass the three bills as soon as the June session began, observers said this was questionable. Business circles continue to be adamantly opposed to the bills, while Choi has also shown a more lukewarm attitude to bulldozing through the economic democratization measures.

The two sides are also expected to butt heads over President Park Geun-hye’s recent promise to address businesses’ concerns about the “ordinary wage” system during her U.S. trip earlier this month.

The presidential office was seen to highlight the concerns by quoting GM chairman Daniel Akerson’s comments made during a meeting of business leaders in Washington, emphasizing that the controversial system could block foreign investment.

The debate involves a recent ruling by the Supreme Court that quarterly paid bonuses should be counted as part of ordinary salary.

Ordinary pay, used as a base to calculate overtime, nighttime, holiday pay and eventually the statutory severance package, currently includes basic salary plus regular allowances.

While the labor sector welcomed the recent court decision, businesses have been voicing concerns about increased costs.

A tripartite panel of labor, management and government will begin discussions next month. While the government and the ruling party aimed to set the mood for discussions at a slower pace by saying they would wait for the three-way discussions to take place, the Democratic Party is urging the Assembly to take the lead to find an immediate resolution.

The Saenuri Party and the Democratic Party are also expected to lock horns over the scandal involving Yoon, who is accused of sexually assaulting a Korean-American intern dispatched to help the delegation accompanying President Park on her U.S. visit.

Yoon, who made an early return to Seoul alone, was sacked, but has claimed he had no ill intent and that the accusation stemmed from cultural differences.

Park has also offered an apology over the matter but the opposition have shunned it as inadequate and are calling for a parliamentary hearing on the issue and the resignation of Park’s entire secretariat.

The Democratic Party is also demanding a formal apology over Park’s contentious personnel appointment style and a detailed plan to overhaul the system.

By Lee Joo-hee (jhl@heraldcorp.com)