An August Special Session Filled with Tension... Will the 'Yellow Envelope Act' Be Passed Before the Regular National Assembly?

From the August Extraordinary Session, Power Struggle Between Ruling and Opposition Parties
Need to Pass the Opposition's Yellow Envelope Act Amid Unlimited Debate Concerns
Arrest Motion for Leader Lee Jae-myung Also a Variable

Tensions are mounting at the August extraordinary session convened ahead of the regular National Assembly session. The ruling and opposition parties are engaged in a 'strategic battle' starting from the issue of the extraordinary session's schedule.

Since the opposition party has expressed its intention to push forward the Yellow Envelope Act (Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act) and the Broadcasting Act, as well as the issue of the arrest consent motion for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, both sides are considering various scenarios. The reason why the ruling and opposition parties are deliberating over various scenarios regarding the extraordinary session schedule is due to the special nature of the session, which begins just before the 100-day regular National Assembly schedule.

Is the August Extraordinary Session the Deadline for the Yellow Envelope Act?

Song Ki-heon, the Democratic Party's senior deputy floor leader, said on the 16th on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "We tried to pass the Yellow Envelope Act in July, but according to consultations with other opposition parties, we planned to handle it in August," adding, "The Broadcasting Act is also a major issue related to broadcasting, and since broadcasting independence has become a significant social issue, this is precisely the time to pass the Broadcasting Act." Song explained, "We are negotiating with the plan to pass it during the August extraordinary session." This indicates that they are considering forcibly passing the Yellow Envelope Act and the Broadcasting Act during the August extraordinary session.

For this law, where there is a significant difference in stance between the ruling and opposition parties, the timing of passage is particularly important. If the opposition pushes it through unilaterally, the ruling party is likely to respond with unlimited debate (filibuster). In such a case, it would be inevitable that the mid-early part of the regular session would face disruptions in government audits or budget reviews, and if passage is attempted in the latter part, there is a high possibility of being framed as 'legislative dictatorship' just before next year's general election. On the other hand, if the related laws are attempted to be passed during the August extraordinary session, even if the ruling party responds with filibuster, the session can be concluded simultaneously with the August extraordinary session period.

Song said, "We are technically thinking that way regarding the ruling party's filibuster response," and added, "We predict that the People Power Party will engage in unlimited filibuster debate, and based on that, we are currently negotiating the date of the plenary session."

The Arrest Consent Motion for Lee Jae-myung is Also a Variable

Another variable related to the schedule is the arrest consent motion for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party. Lee is scheduled to appear before the prosecution on the 17th regarding allegations of preferential treatment in the Baekhyeon-dong development. The political circle is raising the possibility that the prosecution may request an arrest warrant during the August extraordinary session.

On the 30th, the National Assembly plenary session is handling the referral status of the 'Yellow Vest Act' (Amendment to the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act). Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Earlier, on June 19, Lee declared in a negotiation group speech that he would "waive his immunity from arrest." If Lee follows through on his declaration and waives his immunity, he must undergo a warrant review during the non-session period. Considering the regular National Assembly schedule lasting over three months, the period between the August extraordinary session and the regular session is currently the only available window. Of course, if the prosecution requests a warrant after September, the arrest consent motion will be inevitable and must go through a parliamentary vote. The vote must be held within 72 hours after 24 hours have passed since the motion was reported to the plenary session.

For this reason, the Democratic Party is rather hoping that the arrest consent motion will come during the August extraordinary session. Kim Young-jin, the Democratic Party lawmaker in charge of political coordination for the party leader, said on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' on the 31st of last month, "If the warrant is sent between the 16th and 30th of this month, the ruling and opposition parties will agree to cut the session and allow Lee to go for the warrant review."

There are also many other powder kegs scattered around. These include the confirmation hearing for Lee Dong-gwan, nominee for chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, scheduled for the 18th; controversies surrounding the investigation into the death of the late Marine Sergeant Chae Soo-geun, who died during the search for missing persons after heavy rain damage; disputes over responsibility for the Saemangeum World Jamboree; the Seoul-Yangpyeong expressway controversy; and the broadcasting control controversy, among other pressing issues.

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