Ruling Party Protects Lee Dong-gwan, Opposition Forces Forced Passage... 'Legislative Solo Run → Veto' D?j? Vu?

Third Veto Standoff if Veto Exercised
Ruling Party: "Intent to Overwrite President Yoon's Image as Uncommunicative"
Opposition: "Authority Not Given for President to Use at Will"

With the opposition party leading the passage of the Broadcasting Three Acts (Broadcasting Act, Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act, and Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act amendments) and the Yellow Envelope Act (Labor Union and Labor Relations Act amendments) through the National Assembly plenary session on the 9th, predictions have emerged that the political situation may once again enter a phase of presidential re-request rights (veto) exercise. If President Yoon Seok-yeol exercises his veto this time, it will be the third instance following the amendments to the Grain Management Act in April and May and the enactment of the Nursing Act.

Originally, the People Power Party planned to filibuster (unlimited debate) to block the passage of the bills, but they abruptly withdrew this plan and chose to end the plenary session. This is interpreted as an attempt to block the vote on the impeachment motion against Lee Dong-gwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, and two prosecutors, which was pushed by the Democratic Party. The impeachment motion must be voted on within 72 hours after being reported to the plenary session; otherwise, it is considered passed, and this procedural point was utilized.

Accordingly, the Yellow Envelope Act and the Broadcasting Three Acts were passed solely by the opposition party while the People Power Party collectively walked out in protest of the vote.

On the 9th, the partial amendment to the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act was passed at the plenary session held at the National Assembly. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The opposition party-led passage of bills opposed by the ruling party and the president’s exercise of veto rights were also scenes repeated twice in the first half of this year. President Yoon exercised his veto on the Grain Management Act amendment in April and the Nursing Act in May. These bills, returned to the National Assembly, were discarded. Such 'veto politics' have been criticized as a sign of the disappearance of bipartisan cooperation.

Park Jeong-ha, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, said on SBS Radio on the 10th, "It is burdensome to have continuous vetoes ahead of the general election, but the opposition party has repeatedly forced the president to exercise veto rights, as seen with the Grain Management Act. It is a tactic to create an image of the president as uncommunicative." Park added, "They keep labeling the president as uncommunicative, autocratic, and overusing veto rights. This is an attempt to create such an image of poor communication."

Jang Dong-hyuk, floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, claimed there are two reasons behind the Democratic Party’s forceful passage of the bill despite procedural objections, including resuming a constitutional dispute trial for more in-depth discussion.

Jang said on MBC Radio that "(One reason) is to burden national governance by prompting the president to exercise the re-request right. Also, regarding the Yellow Envelope Act, since the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has continuously demanded it, whether or not the veto is exercised, they pushed to pass it by postponing budget reviews to address this overdue task."

Jang added, "We initially planned to filibuster to inform the public about the problems with this law but ultimately did not do so yesterday. Before recommending the exercise of the re-request right, we are considering other ways to persuade and inform the public."

Lee Dong-kwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, is expressing his position regarding the impeachment motion against him at the National Assembly Rotunda Hall on the 9th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the other hand, the Democratic Party criticized the president’s veto and believes it is proper to hold additional plenary sessions to process the impeachment motion. Kang Seon-woo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said on KBS Radio, "While the president’s veto is a legitimate right that can be exercised, it is not a power to be used arbitrarily. The previous veto on the Nursing Act was not because there was no consensus or necessity, was it?"

Regarding criticisms of insufficient efforts for bipartisan cooperation, Kang said, "The Democratic Party has continuously extended a hand and tried to create a forum for public discussion, but the People Power Party does not join. Even for the Nursing Act, we went through public hearings and asked for alternatives, but the People Power Party did not comply and opposed it at the end, leading to the president’s veto."

Kang added, "The Democratic Party also needs to make efforts to provide more detailed information to the public. Nevertheless, since the People Power Party refuses to cooperate, what can the Democratic Party do?"

Park Ju-min, a member of the Democratic Party, said on MBC Radio, "It is hard to understand that the president suddenly exercises a veto on a bill that the ruling party initially threatened to filibuster but then allowed to pass. Honestly, it is frustrating. The Yellow Envelope Act is a bill reflecting accumulated precedents and is not particularly special or unusual."

The Democratic Party believes it is appropriate to hold additional plenary sessions to process the impeachment motion.

Park said, "Being subject to impeachment means, in our judgment, that the individuals committed illegal acts, so it is right to process it as soon as possible. We have conveyed to National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo that it is appropriate to hold an additional plenary session even today to process it, and we will continue to do so." According to Park, the most realistic scenario is to process the impeachment motion at the plenary sessions scheduled for November 30 and December 1.

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