Gov't, rival parties to meet next week to discuss chips bill, extra budget

Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, and government officials hold a working-level meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Feb. 4. Yonhap

The government and rival political parties agreed Tuesday to hold four-way talks early next week to discuss a special law on semiconductors and other pending issues.

The meeting will be attended by acting President Choi Sang-mok and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, as well as Kwon Young-se, interim leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), and Chairman Lee Jae-myung of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).

"We agreed to reach a conclusion on the agendas discussed today (during the working-level meeting) at next week's policy meeting," Rep. Kim Sang-hoon, the PPP's top policymaker, said.

The four sides aim to hold the talks next Monday or Tuesday, he added.

During Tuesday's meeting, the officials are said to have discussed a special law that will exempt semiconductor workers from the country's 52-hour workweek system and other livelihood-related bills.

The DPK is also said to have proposed an extra budget for artificial intelligence and research and development as its key agenda. (Yonhap)