Rival parties agree to hold Nat'l Assembly plenary session this week

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, center, talks with Kim Byung-kee, left, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, and Song Eon-seog, floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, during their meeting at Woo's office in Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) agreed Tuesday to hold a parliamentary plenary session this week.

The agreement was announced following a meeting chaired by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and attended by Kim Byung-kee, the DPK's acting leader and floor leader, and PPP floor leader Song Eon-seog.

A resolution honoring late former U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel will also be adopted during Thursday's session, DPK floor spokesperson Kim Hyung-jung told reporters.

Rangel, known for his service during the Korean War and his decadeslong efforts to strengthen the alliance between Korea and the United States, died on May 26.

During the meeting, Woo also called for bipartisan cooperation to fill five vacant standing committee chair positions, including the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.