Unlimited Debate Forced End Prevention Act Proposed... Jong-bae Lee "Strengthening End Conditions to Two-Thirds"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Lee Jong-bae, the Policy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, submitted a bill to amend the National Assembly Act on the 9th to strengthen the conditions for ending unlimited debate. The amendment aims to prevent unlimited debate from being ended solely by pro-government parties such as the Democratic Party of Korea.

Lee Jong-bae, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, is attending the video party leader meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The amendment includes strengthening the quorum requirement for the resolution to end unlimited debate from more than three-fifths to more than two-thirds of the total members.

Under the current National Assembly Act, unlimited debate without time restrictions can be requested by at least one-third of the total members (100 seats if there are 300 seats) on agenda items submitted to the plenary session. This type of debate, commonly called a filibuster, is a means to guarantee minority opinions. However, the Act allows the debate to be ended if more than three-fifths (180 seats) of the total members approve the motion to end the debate.

Previously, on December 13-14 last year, the People Power Party held an unlimited debate on the partial amendment to the Act on the Development of Inter-Korean Relations (the amendment to the Act banning anti-North Korea leaflets), but the Democratic Party submitted a motion to end the debate, and the debate was ended with 187 votes in favor and 1 abstention out of 188 votes. Under the current National Assembly situation, pro-government parties such as the Democratic Party can secure enough seats to end the debate if they unite their forces.

Lee said, "There have been criticisms that the original purpose of introducing unlimited debate is being undermined as the ruling majority forcibly ends the unlimited debate," adding, "The quorum for the resolution to end unlimited debate should be strengthened from more than three-fifths to more than two-thirds of the total members to prevent the majority party's tyranny and revive the original purpose of introducing unlimited debate."

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