Ruling and Opposition Parties Agree to Prioritize Non-Controversial Bills... Later Filibuster on Public Officials Corruption Investigation Act, etc. (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Lim Chunhan] On the 9th, the ruling and opposition parties agreed in the plenary session to prioritize the passage of bills for which the People Power Party did not file a filibuster (legal obstruction of parliamentary proceedings through unlimited debate).

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters in the afternoon, "When the plenary session opens, we plan to proceed with parliamentary procedure speeches and pass bills without disputes between the ruling and opposition parties," adding, "Afterwards, we agreed to briefly recess for negotiations between the parties and then proceed with either the full committee or filibuster."

Kim Young-jin, senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, also told reporters, "We decided to first pass bills without unlimited debate and then proceed sequentially with bills subject to filibuster."

The bills for which the People Power Party filed filibusters include the amendment to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office Act (Gongsucheo Act), the amendment to the National Intelligence Service Act, and the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act, which includes penalties for leaflet distribution toward North Korea.

Initially, the so-called 'May 18 Distortion Punishment Act,' an amendment to the Special Act on the May 18 Democratic Movement, and the amendment to the Special Act on the Truth Commission on Social Disasters and the Construction of a Safe Society (Sachamwi Act) were also considered for filibuster application, but based on the judgment of the relevant standing committees, it was decided to engage in pro and con debates but participate in the vote.

The first filibuster will be on the amendment to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office Act (Gongsucheo Act), with four-term lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun from the People Power Party taking the lead as the first speaker.

However, since the regular National Assembly session ends on this day, even if the filibuster is conducted, it will conclude at midnight on the 10th. The Democratic Party is expected to wait for the end of the regular session without requesting to end the debate. Regarding the Democratic Party's response, Floor Leader Kim said, "Isn't the time too short?"

The Democratic Party, which submitted a request to convene a special session, is pushing to resubmit and vote on the amendment to the Gongsucheo Act on the afternoon of the 10th, the start date of the new special session.

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