Opposition: "Democratic Party Betrayed Us"... What Is the Minority Party's Secret Weapon 'Filibuster'?

Reintroduced in 2012 through the so-called 'National Assembly Advancement Act'
In 2016, the Democratic Party of Korea requested a 'Tebang Law Opposition Filibuster'
Last year, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in the so-called 'Counter Filibuster'

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party (second from left), is making a statement condemning the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) Act in front of the meeting room of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's Bill Review Subcommittee 1 at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The People Power Party plans to hold an overnight sit-in at the National Assembly Rotunda on the 9th to block the forced passage of major bills, including the Democratic Party of Korea's High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (PCC) Act amendment. They also intend to conduct a filibuster (unlimited debate) during the plenary session.

A filibuster refers to a tactic used by minority parties to legally obstruct the progress of proceedings in order to prevent the majority party from passing bills unilaterally. Common methods include refusing to attend, continuously proposing consent or amendment motions, and engaging in prolonged debates to delay proceedings. In Korea, only unlimited debate is recognized among these methods.

Although abolished in 1973, the filibuster was revived through the so-called 'National Assembly Advancement Act' passed during the 19th National Assembly in 2012. According to current law, a filibuster can be initiated if at least one-third of the total members request it regarding a plenary session agenda.

Meanwhile, the filibuster ends when ▲ no members remain to continue the debate, ▲ the National Assembly session ends, or ▲ at least three-fifths of the total members vote in favor of ending it.

If the session ends due to a filibuster, the pending agenda items are automatically put to a vote at the first plenary session of the next assembly.

In February 2016, Lee Jong-gul, then a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, participated in an unlimited debate opposing the Anti-Terrorism Act / Photo by Yonhap News

The first filibuster after its reintroduction occurred in 2016. At that time, the main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea, applied a filibuster to block the so-called 'Anti-Terrorism Act' promoted by the ruling Saenuri Party. This was the first filibuster in the National Assembly in 52 years since then Shinmindang member Kim Dae-jung's filibuster in 1964.

On February 23 of the same year, as the plenary session began, Democratic Party member Kim Kwang-jin took the podium around 7:05 p.m. to start the unlimited debate. Over approximately nine days, a total of 38 members gave speeches, with a cumulative speaking time of 192 hours and 27 minutes, setting a world record for the longest filibuster.

In December last year, the Liberty Korea Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) also applied filibusters to all 199 agenda items, including the Public Official Election Act amendment designated as a fast-track bill at the time.

However, at that time, Democratic Party members who supported the election law amendment also participated in the filibuster, resulting in a so-called 'counter filibuster.'

Joo Ho-young, a member of the Liberty Korea Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party), began unlimited debate on the 'Election Law Amendment' at the National Assembly plenary session on the afternoon of December 23 last year. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the second day of the filibuster, the 24th, then Democratic Party floor leader Lee In-young explained the ruling party's participation in the filibuster by saying, "We will create a public forum for reform in the plenary session," adding, "Prosecutorial reform and political reform bills have been deprived of proper debate opportunities on the parliamentary floor despite their importance. The Liberty Korea Party blocked debate opportunities and only spread black propaganda."

If the People Power Party applies a filibuster this time, it will be the third unlimited debate held in the National Assembly since the reintroduction of the filibuster.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the People Power Party reached a consensus at a party meeting on the 7th to apply a filibuster against the Democratic Party's attempt to forcibly pass the PCC Act amendment. On that day, People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young explained to reporters the reason for considering the filibuster card, saying, "They betrayed their promise not to unilaterally pass the PCC Act amendment while searching for a PCC chief candidate."

Currently, the People Power Party is gathered in front of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting room, where the PCC Act amendment is being reviewed, continuing their sit-in.

Also, if the Democratic Party unilaterally processes the agenda in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, they will begin an overnight sit-in at the National Assembly Rotunda. They plan to apply for a filibuster at the final plenary session of this regular National Assembly on the 9th.

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