The Democratic Party and the People Power Party Watch Constitutional Court Ruling on 'No Bong Law and Broadcasting Act Promotion' (Comprehensive)

Minjoo Officializes Promotion of Nobong Act and Broadcasting Act on 9th Next Month
Constitutional Court to Deliver Jurisdiction Dispute Judgment on 26th
Ruling Party: "Will Observe Citation but Start Preparations in Advance"

The Democratic Party of Korea has pledged to pass the Yellow Envelope Act and the Broadcasting Act at the plenary session scheduled for the 9th of next month, while the People Power Party is closely monitoring the ruling on the constitutional dispute trial regarding these bills, which is scheduled for the 26th.

A People Power Party official said in a phone call on the 24th, "If the Constitutional Court accepts our party's petition, the Democratic Party will not be able to submit the bills, but if not, we are preparing for the possibility that they will be submitted on the 9th." According to the Constitutional Court's ruling schedule, the ruling on the constitutional dispute trial concerning these bills is set for the afternoon of the 26th.

Choi Hye-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, met with reporters at the National Assembly on the morning of the same day and officially announced, "We have decided to push forward with the Yellow Envelope Act and the Broadcasting Act at the plenary session starting on November 9," adding, "We have also decided to proceed with the Speaker." Previously, the Democratic Party had attempted to pass these bills several times, but Speaker Kim Jin-pyo refused to put them on the agenda, demanding consultations between the ruling and opposition parties, preventing the bills from reaching a vote.

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@

The Democratic Party holds an overwhelming majority of seats (168 seats) in the National Assembly, so if the bills are submitted, their passage is likely, but the Constitutional Court's decision has become a variable. Earlier, members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the People Power Party filed a constitutional dispute trial with the Constitutional Court in April regarding the Broadcasting Act and in May regarding the Yellow Envelope Act, arguing that the direct referral violated Article 86, Paragraph 3 of the National Assembly Act. Article 86, Paragraph 3 of the National Assembly Act states that direct referral is based on "when the Legislation and Judiciary Committee fails to complete the review within 60 days without reason from the date the bill was referred," but the People Power Party viewed that since these bills were under discussion in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the 60 days had passed with "reason."

Regardless of the ruling, the People Power Party has begun preparations such as filibusters (unlimited debate) in anticipation of the Yellow Envelope Act and the Broadcasting Act being submitted on the 9th of next month. A staff member from a People Power Party lawmaker's office explained, "Recently, whenever the plenary session is held, we are always prepared for a filibuster in anticipation of the submission of the Yellow Envelope Act."

In this regard, the Democratic Party plans to stop the filibuster. Chief floor spokesperson Choi said, "I think the ruling party's filibuster will probably take about five days starting from the 9th," adding, "To stop the filibuster, 179 votes in favor are needed. Since the filibuster is done separately for each bill, it is expected to take about five days." According to the National Assembly Act, a motion to end a filibuster is passed by a three-fifths majority of the total members present 24 hours after it is submitted. If the ruling party requests filibusters for all four bills related to the Yellow Envelope Act and the Broadcasting Act, it is expected to take about five days to process motions to end filibusters for each bill.

Within the People Power Party, there are also opinions that the Constitutional Court is unlikely to accept the constitutional dispute trial. A party floor official said, "I don't think the timing makes it likely to be accepted," explaining, "The Constitutional Court Chief Justice, who is about to step down, has been silent until now and suddenly decided to rush the ruling, and the Democratic Party has declared its intention to push the bills for a long time, so it is coincidental that the ruling is scheduled just before that." Chief Justice Yoo Nam-seok of the Constitutional Court is classified as a progressive judge, and his term ends on the 10th of next month.

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