Democratic Party Pushes Through Broadcasting Act as People Power Party Left Powerless: "Ruling Party Sets Runaway Train of Unjust Laws in Motion"

Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act Passed, EBS Act Introduced
Opposition Stages Filibuster; Choi Hyungdoo Leads Off
Sequential Passage Expected by the 25th
"Runaway Train of Unjust Laws in Motion"

On August 21, the Democratic Party of Korea passed the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act at the National Assembly plenary session and decided to push ahead with the so-called Yellow Envelope Act (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act) and the second round of amendments to the Commercial Act. In response, the People Power Party strongly objected, stating, "They have finally set the runaway train in motion to pass unjust laws." Although the People Power Party plans to respond with a filibuster (unlimited debate), it can only delay the vote and is unable to prevent the passage of the bills, leaving the party with no effective means to stop them.

On the 21st, as the partial amendment to the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act was passed at the National Assembly plenary session, ruling party lawmakers applauded. August 21, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

That morning, in a plenary session of the National Assembly, the Democratic Party passed the so-called Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act-one of the three broadcasting-related bills-with 169 in favor, 1 against, and 1 abstention out of 171 members present, while People Power Party lawmakers were absent. Subsequently, a by-election was held to elect the new chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to replace Lee Choonseok, who had left the Democratic Party due to allegations of stock trading under borrowed names, and five-term lawmaker Choo Mi-ae was elected to the position.

Instead of attending the plenary session, the People Power Party held a general assembly of its lawmakers to protest the Democratic Party's push to pass these bills. Song Eon-seok, acting leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the assembly, "The unjust laws they are pushing are being packaged as efforts for educational normalization, labor rights protection, and economic democratization, but in reality, these are ideologically biased and self-righteous bad laws." He added, "Education will be contaminated by politics, workplaces will be paralyzed by illegal strikes, and companies will move overseas, ultimately shifting the burden onto the people."

The Democratic Party has also announced its intention to pass the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act, the Yellow Envelope Act, and the second round of amendments to the Commercial Act-all of which were introduced that day-by August 25. The People Power Party plans to respond to each bill with a filibuster. To this end, they have organized five teams of about 20 lawmakers each, assigned by standing committee, to guard the plenary chamber in six-hour shifts. However, under National Assembly rules, the Democratic Party can forcibly end a filibuster after 24 hours, so it cannot ultimately block the passage of the bills. As both parties have agreed not to hold a plenary session on August 22, the day of the People Power Party's national convention, it is expected that the Yellow Envelope Act and the amendments to the Commercial Act will be passed sequentially on August 24 and 25.

Choi Hyungdoo, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, was the first to take the floor in the filibuster against the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act. He emphasized, "This debate is not just about the broadcasting law, but also an appeal for the National Assembly, as the hall of public opinion, to reconsider and help reunite a Republic of Korea divided by political and social polarization, and to move toward the future." He added, "If the bill is implemented as it is, it will create a very serious problem, as the National Assembly will fail to fulfill its responsibilities and duties."

However, some in the political sphere have pointed out that the People Power Party has failed to present adequate alternatives against the Democratic Party, which holds a large majority. In the case of the Yellow Envelope Act, there was about a two-week window for negotiations after the August 5 plenary session, but the People Power Party only proposed forming a consultative body to discuss amendments to the Trade Union Act and did not present any convincing alternatives. Song urged lawmakers, saying, "As a minority opposition party, it is not easy to physically block the forced passage of these bills, but we must continue the filibuster to make it clear to the public that these actions are not in the national interest."

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