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The National Assembly Futures Institute publishes reports that predict and analyze the changes in the future environment based on a comprehensive perspective, and derive mid- to long-term national development strategies in consideration of the preferences of the citizens
A Study on the Functional Reorganization of the National Assembly for the Promotion of National Long-Term Strategies

Date : 2019-12-31 item : Research Report 19-14 P.I : NAFI

A Study on the Functional Reorganization of the National Assembly for the Promotion of National Long-Term Strategies

The purpose of this report is to examine the roles and functions that the National Assembly can play in establishing and implementing Korea's national long-term development strategies, and to seek ways for the participation of the National Assembly. Policies should reflect the government's willingness to transform reality into a desirable future. However, in light of the many challenges that the country will face in the future, the absence of long-term policies and the lack of policy continuity are identified as major problems.

In reality, under the single-term presidency system, it may be difficult to secure policy continuity and long-term policy periods. Therefore, in order to establish policies and solve problems from a mid- to long-term perspective, the National Assembly needs to be involved in the preparation and promotion of long-term strategies.

This study derived implementation strategies on how to redefine the roles and functions of the National Assembly in order to come up with and implement national long-term strategies under the current system. The study report consists of three parts: literature review, domestic and foreign case review regarding the establishment and implementation of national long-term strategies, and National Assembly organization review, and the preparation of implementation strategies based on interviews with former and current lawmakers. In the case analysis, the cases of Finland and Singapore where the implementation of national long-term strategies is led by the legislature were analyzed to ascertain implications for Korea.

By reviewing the organization of the National Assembly, this study identified the internal organizations that can play an important role related to national long-term development strategies when such a role is required of the National Assembly. In addition, through interviews with former and current lawmakers and experts, insights on strengthening the functions of the National Assembly were obtained along with practical implementation plans to collect various insightful opinions related to long-term strategy establishment and implementation.

Based on the study results, the following implementation strategies were proposed. First of all, it is necessary to establish a committee in charge of future strategies (tentatively named the Special Committee for Future Strategies) that is led by the National Assembly. On the other hand, in this study, it was suggested that substantial authority, such as the right to deliberate on bills, is granted to the special committee at the time of organization to avoid repeating the failure cases of the previous National Assembly.

This study also insists that by designating the presidential committees dealing with future strategy agendas as the competent agencies for the Special Committee for Future Strategies, the administration and legislature should establish a system that allow them to find their contact points in establishing national long-term strategies and extend their communication. Accordingly, it should be made possible to assess whether the administration is properly promoting national long-term strategies following the plan proposed by the National Assembly.

If the administration and legislature can contribute together to establishing Korea's national long-term development strategies, this will serve as a solid cornerstone for creating the foundation for long-term national development with a future-oriented perspective.