Opposition Party to Submit Broadcasting Communications Commission Act to Plenary Session... Begins 4-Night 5-Day Filibuster

The Democratic Party of Korea has begun to formally bring the Broadcasting Four Laws (amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Agency Act, the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act, and the Act on the Establishment of the Korea Communications Commission) to the plenary session of the National Assembly as party-backed bills. The People Power Party has opposed the opposition-led bill processing and has entered a filibuster (unlimited debate) expected to last for 4 nights and 5 days.

On the 25th, at the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Choi Hyung-doo, a member of the People Power Party, is conducting a filibuster (legal obstruction of parliamentary proceedings through unlimited debate) against the partial amendment bill on the establishment and operation of the Korea Communications Commission among the 'Broadcasting Act 4'. Unlike the seats of the People Power Party members, the opposition party seats are completely empty.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 25th, Speaker Woo Won-shik, at the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, submitted the amendment to the Korea Communications Commission Act among the Broadcasting Four Laws based on the Democratic Party's request. The People Power Party opposed it, claiming that "the Broadcasting Four Laws are bills created for the Democratic Party to permanently control public broadcasting," and began the filibuster. The first debater was Choi Hyung-doo, a member of the People Power Party.

As of 5:32 p.m. that day, 170 Democratic Party lawmakers submitted a consent form to end the unlimited debate on the amendment to the Korea Communications Commission Act. The filibuster ends 24 hours after the consent form is submitted. If the Broadcasting Four Laws are sequentially submitted in this way, the filibuster is expected to last for at least 4 nights and 5 days.

The Democratic Party adopted the Broadcasting Four Laws as party-backed bills on the 13th of last month. Although they were passed in the 21st National Assembly, President Yoon Seok-yeol exercised his veto on the amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Agency Act, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act, which included the amendment to the Korea Communications Commission Act that stipulates the quorum for the Korea Communications Commission's decisions as four or more members. The Democratic Party's position is that operating the Korea Communications Commission with a two-member system is illegal and they intend to block it through legislative activities. On the other hand, the People Power Party views the Broadcasting Four Laws as an attempt by the opposition to seize control of broadcasting and has taken steps to block them.

To resolve the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties, Speaker Woo proposed a mediation plan on the 17th. He suggested that the ruling party suspend the appointment process of the public broadcasting board members, and the opposition suspend the impeachment procedures including that of the Korea Communications Commission Chairperson. However, after the People Power Party rejected the mediation plan, Speaker Woo stated his intention to proceed with the Broadcasting Four Laws according to the procedures. In a press conference the day before, Speaker Woo said, "We have no choice but to sequentially process the bills submitted to the plenary session starting tomorrow," and added, "The Speaker of the National Assembly has the duty to create a National Assembly that reflects the public sentiment that formed the 22nd National Assembly."

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