On January 19, the National Assembly Research Service (NARS) held a 2017 New Year briefing for the Speaker of the National Assembly in the Speaker's reception room.
During the briefing NARS reviewed the need to introduce an 'urgent research request system' to improve timeliness, laid out plans to publish useful reports proposing practical legislative measures to MPs, and suggested ways to reinforce MPs' parliamentary activities and external cooperation. Marking its 10th anniversary this year, NARS also announced a mid-to-long-term strategy to move into a new phase.
Built on three major goals—safeguarding constitutional spirit, preparing for the future, and supporting the citizens' livelihood—NARS suggested a variety of research studies including amendment of Constitution and plans to hold a series of seminars inviting experts on each agenda.
Briefed about NARS's plan, National Assembly Speaker Chung Syekyun highlighted the need for a change in order to rebuild people's trust in the National Assembly, commenting that NARS should "embody an owner's spirit and actively try new ways to help change people's views of the National Assembly and be of a better support for our fellow citizens."
