Ruling and opposition parties clash again over impeachment and filibuster... Plenary session to discuss 'Lee Jin-suk impeachment, Yellow Envelope Act, and 250,000 won support law'

Hey, Attempt to Pass the Livelihood Recovery Support Fund Act and Others at the Plenary Session on the Afternoon of the 1st
Impeachment of Lee Jin-suk, High Possibility of Processing on the 2nd After Reporting to the Plenary Session

The ruling and opposition parties will clash again on the 1st over the impeachment of Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chair Lee Jin-sook and the passage of the Yellow Envelope Act (Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act). This comes just two days after the unlimited debate (filibuster) over the passage of the four broadcasting laws ended.

On the same day, Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea's announcement to pass the Yellow Envelope Act and the Livelihood Recovery Support Fund Act (which provides 250,000 won to all citizens) in the plenary session, calling them "anti-market, anti-business, and anti-economy evil laws that ruin the economy and have clear constitutional issues." Choo referred to the Yellow Envelope Act as the "illegal strike promotion law," criticizing it by saying, "It effectively tells business owners not to manage their companies and to respond to strikes 365 days a year." Regarding Chair Lee, who faces impeachment just one day after taking office, he said, "The habitual impeachment addiction is so severe that she cannot quit even for a single day." Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, also pointed out, "The Democratic Party has trivialized impeachment, a serious constitutional institution, into a political gimmick."

On the other hand, the opposition expressed their determination to proceed with the impeachment of Chair Lee as well as the Yellow Envelope Act. Park Chan-dae, acting party leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party, criticized Chair Lee and others for forcibly appointing directors to the KBS board and the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Foundation board, the major shareholder of MBC, at a Broadcasting and Communications Commission meeting held the previous day, calling it "a clear illegal act, a blatant attempt to seize control of broadcasting, and an outrage against democracy." Jin Sung-jun, chairman of the Democratic Party's Policy Committee, explained regarding the Yellow Envelope Act and others that they are "livelihood legislation aimed at practically guaranteeing labor rights."

On the 30th, members of the People Power Party began leaving the plenary session hall as the vote started on the fourth bill among the 'Broadcasting Four Laws,' the amendment to the Educational Broadcasting System Act (EBS Act), at the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Accordingly, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to hold a plenary session at 2 p.m. to report the motion to impeach Chair Lee and then process the appointment consent for Supreme Court Justice candidates Noh Kyung-pil and Park Young-jae. Following that, if the Livelihood Recovery Support Fund Act is brought to the plenary session, an unlimited debate is expected to be held at the request of the ruling party and others. However, after 24 hours of unlimited debate on the 2nd, the opposition is expected to demand its conclusion and proceed to a voting procedure. Subsequently, votes on the Livelihood Recovery Support Fund Act and the impeachment motion against Chair Lee are expected to take place. Afterward, the Yellow Envelope Act will be brought to the plenary session, and unlimited debate will begin, but it is anticipated to be automatically discarded due to the end of the session.

However, there are still many variables in the National Assembly situation. Chair Lee may voluntarily resign due to concerns about a work vacuum caused by impeachment. However, in political circles, since the board appointments have been finalized, it is also expected that unlike predecessors who resigned before impeachment, Chair Lee may face impeachment trials at the Constitutional Court. Additionally, considering the condition that voting must occur within 72 hours after 24 hours of reporting, there is speculation that the People Power Party may give up on the unlimited debate.

Regarding the response to Chair Lee's impeachment, there are also voices of concern within the opposition. Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform New Party on the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, said on CBS Radio, "She has only been in office for one day, and if she is impeached, the Constitutional Court might dismiss the case," expressing concern that "if that happens, Chair Lee will rather gain wings."

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