The People Power Party vows a counter 'filibuster' against the Democratic Party... Success hinges on the 'strategic battle'

Democratic Party Adopts Party Line to Pass 'Complete Prosecution Reform' Bill in April
People Power Party: "Will Block Even Using Filibuster"
180 Lawmakers Needed to End Filibuster
Third Party Justice Party May Hold the 'Casting Vote'

The Democratic Party of Korea is causing political turmoil by pushing forward legislation known as 'Geomsu Wanbak,' which limits the prosecution's investigative authority. The People Power Party has stated its intention to block this through an unlimited debate filibuster.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The People Power Party (PPP) has vowed to block the Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) forced legislation on 'complete removal of prosecution's investigative authority' (Geomsu Wanbak) by resorting to a filibuster (unlimited debate). This is the second time since 2020 that the PPP has pulled out the filibuster card to stop the DPK.

Accordingly, the 'battle of wits' within the National Assembly is expected to intensify. Under the current National Assembly Act, ending a filibuster requires the approval of at least three-fifths (180 members) of the total members. Although the DPK is the largest party in the Assembly, its 172 members alone cannot meet this threshold. The PPP also absolutely needs the support of other minor parties to prevent an early termination of the filibuster.

Park Hyungsu, the PPP floor spokesperson, said in a statement on the 12th, "The DPK has finally confirmed pushing the 'Geomsu Wanbak' bill as its party policy," and criticized, "They are trying to change the criminal justice procedure that has been in place for 70 years overnight, pushing it through without any in-depth review or alternative proposals."

He added, "If Geomsu Wanbak was truly necessary, it should have been pursued last January when the adjustment of investigative authority between the police and prosecution was made, not now. The only difference between then and now is that the PPP won the presidential election," emphasizing, "If they try to force it through in April, we will use all means including filibusters."

The DPK held a policy meeting on the same day and decided to aim for passing the bill realizing Geomsu Wanbak within this month and promulgating it at the Cabinet meeting on the 3rd of next month. They plan to push the legislation forward even if the PPP opposes it.

Currently, as the largest party in the National Assembly with 172 seats, when the DPK pushes a specific bill, the PPP has almost no way to stop it. This is why the option of delaying the vote as much as possible through a filibuster in the plenary session, which ultimately decides the Assembly's agenda, is being discussed.

Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is seen speaking as the 17th speaker in an unlimited debate to block the Anti-Terrorism Act in the early morning of February 27, 2016, at the National Assembly plenary session. At that time, Representative Jeong continued the debate for 11 hours and 39 minutes, setting the longest record. / Photo by Yonhap News

The DPK also applied a filibuster during the plenary session in 2016 when the 'Anti-Terrorism Act for the Protection of the People and Public Safety' (Anti-Terrorism Act) was submitted, delaying the vote for over eight days.

The PPP also attempted filibusters twice in 2020 to block the DPK. These were the filibuster on the amendment to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office Act (Public Officials Corruption Investigation Office Act) that started at 9 p.m. on December 9th, and the filibuster on the amendment to the National Intelligence Service Act that lasted nearly two days from the next day until the 12th.

However, this time, since the DPK has adopted the 'passing the bill within April' as its party policy, even if the PPP launches a filibuster, there is a high possibility that an early termination will be attempted.

According to the current National Assembly Act, a filibuster can be ended if a secret ballot vote receives approval from at least three-fifths of the total members. In other words, the quorum is 180 members. Since the DPK currently holds 172 seats, it must bring eight members from other minor parties or independents to its side.

Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the People Power Party, is drinking water during a filibuster on the complete revision bill of the National Intelligence Service Act at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the afternoon of December 11, 2020. / Photo by Yonhap News

However, it is uncertain whether the DPK can easily reach the quorum. Although the DPK leadership has decided to push forward with the Geomsu Wanbak legislation, controversy is growing in political and legal circles.

As the filibuster vote is conducted by secret ballot, it is uncertain whether all DPK members will vote in favor, and whether they can win over other parties or independent members.

From the PPP's perspective, as long as there is a possibility of an early termination of the filibuster, cooperation with other parties is essential. Ultimately, the balance of power inevitably leans toward the Justice Party, the third party holding six seats.

Currently, the Justice Party has only expressed regret over the DPK's decision to adopt Geomsu Wanbak as party policy.

Jang Taesu, spokesperson for the Justice Party, said in a written briefing on the 12th, "We regret this decision as we had requested to review the achievements and limitations of the adjustment of investigative authority between the police and prosecution and to prepare measures to ensure democratic control of the police and prosecution, human rights protection, and safety from crime."

He continued, "In the midst of unprecedented inflation and the hardships faced by self-employed citizens due to the COVID-19 disaster, the National Assembly, which should carefully observe citizens' lives even during the regime transition phase, may descend into an animalistic Assembly due to extreme confrontation," urging, "Even if debates and disputes are fierce, we ask all parties to maintain a calm and rational attitude at times like this so that citizens do not develop aversion to politics and the Assembly."

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