United Future Party Sees Yoon Hee-sook Effect... Next Up, Filibuster?

If the Ruling Coalition's Total Seats Combine, Filibuster Can Be Halted

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] As Rep. Yoon Hee-sook of the United Future Party’s opposition speech against the 'Three Lease Laws' gained national attention, the United Future Party has once again asserted its presence as the main opposition party. This has sparked interest in whether the party will initiate a filibuster (legal obstruction of parliamentary proceedings) on the 4th.

On the 3rd, Baek Jun-young, the party spokesperson, told reporters immediately after the emergency committee meeting, "Even if we apply for a filibuster, it is difficult because the other side can stop it with their majority," adding, "However, there is an opinion that we should still apply, so I have conveyed this to the floor leadership."

At the emergency committee meeting that day, Floor Leader Joo stated, "We will use every possible means to inform the public about the problems of this law, propose alternatives to minimize side effects, and mobilize all possible measures to make the Democratic Party change its mind and legislate more precisely." This leaves room for employing a filibuster strategy depending on the situation.

The United Future Party faced criticism as a powerless opposition party alongside the 'Yoon Hee-sook syndrome' during the passage of real estate bills through standing committees and plenary sessions. This was because they did not even attempt legitimate resistance measures such as the agenda adjustment committee or filibuster.

In the case of a filibuster, a request signed by at least one-third of the total members of the National Assembly is sufficient for submission regarding a bill referred to the plenary session. However, the filibuster can be stopped with the approval of more than three-fifths (180 seats) of the total members. Ultimately, the Democratic Party, together with the Justice Party and the Open Democratic Party, can immediately end the United Future Party’s filibuster. This is why calls for extra-parliamentary protests persist, with limitations of message warfare being pointed out both inside and outside the United Future Party. Although the party discussed parallel inside and outside struggles at last week’s caucus meeting, no definitive conclusion was reached.

Earlier, on the 30th of last month, Rep. Yoon opened fire on the government and ruling party through a five-minute free speech immediately after the passage of the Housing Lease Protection Act and others, saying, "I am a tenant." She said, "What came to my mind was that after four years, I would inevitably have to move into a monthly rent," and "My concern is that there will be no more jeonse (long-term deposit lease) from now on."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.