Only 'Five Days' to Pass Controversial Laws Including the Yellow Envelope Act... Ruling and Opposition Parties Predict 'Clashes'

Democrats Approve Submission of Yellow Envelope Act and Broadcasting 3 Laws at Party Meeting
Submission of Three National Investigation Requests Including Marine Corps Cha Sang-byeong Case
Yoon May Exercise Veto Power... Inevitable Extreme Confrontation Between Ruling and Opposition Parties

The ruling and opposition parties are expected to clash over the 'Yellow Envelope Act (Labor Union Act Articles 2 and 3)' and the Broadcasting Three Acts, which are scheduled to be submitted to the National Assembly plenary session on the 9th. While the People Power Party plans to launch an unlimited debate (filibuster) to block the passage of these contentious bills, the Democratic Party of Korea has decided to counter with a series of supportive debates. The Democratic Party also intends to submit requests for a national audit on the Osong disaster, suspicions of broadcasting control by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, and the Marine Corps soldier Chae Sang-byeong incident to the plenary session, making an extreme confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties inevitable.

On the afternoon of the 8th, the Democratic Party held a party meeting at the National Assembly and agreed to submit the Yellow Envelope Act and the amendments to the Broadcasting Three Acts to the plenary session on the 9th. Yoon Young-duk, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, said, "We have decided to submit the Yellow Envelope Act and the Broadcasting Three Acts to the plenary session," adding, "Since the People Power Party has announced an unlimited debate, a filibuster, we are preparing supportive debates accordingly."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Before the vote on the Yellow Envelope Act on the 9th, the Democratic Party plans to field eight of its members for supportive debates in response to the People Power Party's filibuster. Then, through a vote 24 hours later on the 10th, they intend to end the People Power Party's filibuster and forcibly pass the Yellow Envelope Act. Spokesperson Yoon said, "Including the Broadcasting Three Acts, 15 lawmakers will participate in the supportive debates," and added, "Since we need to process four bills, the plenary session will proceed for a total of five days, with a vote to end the debate 24 hours after submission, followed by the submission of the next bill, which will be debated without time limits."

Additionally, at the party meeting that day, the Democratic Party adopted as party policy three national audits concerning ▲ the Osong underground passage disaster ▲ the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's broadcasting control ▲ suspicions of investigation interference in the case of the fallen Marine Corps soldier, and submitted requests for these national audits to the National Assembly's legislative affairs office.

Furthermore, the party adopted as party policy the passage of the so-called 'Kim Geon-hee Act,' which bans dog meat consumption, and an amendment to the National Finance Act that exempts preliminary feasibility studies related to the extension of Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 5. Spokesperson Yoon emphasized, "We will make every effort to have the Kim Geon-hee Act passed by November."

Earlier, on June 30, the National Assembly passed the submission of the Yellow Envelope Act to the plenary session with 178 votes in favor, 4 against, and 2 invalid out of 184 members present. At that time, the People Power Party strongly protested the submission of the Yellow Envelope Act to the plenary session and all members left before the vote. The ruling party argued that the Yellow Envelope Act could encourage illegal strikes and filed a constitutional complaint with the Constitutional Court. However, on the 26th of last month, the Constitutional Court dismissed the plaintiff's claim and ruled that the direct submission of the Yellow Envelope Act to the plenary session was valid.

For a bill submitted to the National Assembly plenary session to be scheduled for discussion, an agreement between the Speaker of the National Assembly and the leaders of the negotiating groups is required. So far, Speaker Kim Jin-pyo has delayed scheduling by emphasizing the principle of agreement between the ruling and opposition parties. However, Speaker Kim decided to schedule the direct submission bills, including the Yellow Envelope Act, at the plenary session on the 9th, judging that he could no longer ignore the National Assembly Act, which stipulates automatic scheduling of submitted bills even without agreement between the parties.

The People Power Party plans to filibuster each bill, but if the majority Democratic Party forcibly passes them, the bills' approval seems inevitable. However, even if the Yellow Envelope Act is passed in the plenary session and sent to the government, President Yoon is likely to exercise his veto power. The presidential office has stated that it intends to exercise veto power on bills that impose excessive burdens on national finances, infringe on national interests, cause sharp conflicts among stakeholders, or are forcibly passed without bipartisan agreement. Previously, President Yoon exercised veto power on the amendments to the Grain Management Act and the enactment of the Nursing Act.

President Yoon can attach an objection statement and request reconsideration from the National Assembly within 15 days after the bill is sent to the government. Even if the Yellow Envelope Act returns to the National Assembly, the possibility of reconsideration is low. For reconsideration, a majority of the total members must be present, and two-thirds or more of the members present must agree. Since more than 100 People Power Party members can attend and vote against it, the bill can be rejected.

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