Kim Byunggi: "Filibuster Act to Be Top Priority at Plenary Session"

Democratic Party Policy Coordination Meeting Held on December 4

Kim Byunggi, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced, "We will prioritize the passage of the National Assembly Act amendment (the bill to strengthen filibuster requirements) at the plenary session."

Kim Byunggi, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Policy Coordination Meeting held at the National Assembly on December 3, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

At the Democratic Party's Policy Coordination Meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido on December 4, Kim stated, "We will now correct the filibuster that has paralyzed the National Assembly, exhausted the public, and overworked journalists." According to Floor Spokesperson Moon Geumjoo, the plenary session is expected to be held on December 9.

Kim noted, "Yesterday, the National Assembly Steering Committee passed the amendment to the National Assembly Act, also known as the Proper Filibuster Act," and added, "While the filibuster was originally a mechanism to protect minority opinions, it has been misused in the National Assembly as a political tactic to halt proceedings and gain a negotiating advantage, prioritizing partisan interests."

He continued, "Above all, holding livelihood bills hostage with filibusters in order to block reform bills cannot be considered responsible politics," and explained, "This amendment allows the Speaker of the National Assembly to assign unlimited debate to designated members, and if the number of attending lawmakers falls below one-fifth of the total members, the session will be adjourned immediately." He added, "Empty-chamber filibusters will now disappear."

Kim also clarified, "There are some misunderstandings, so let me be clear: the opportunity for filibuster will remain guaranteed. What the Democratic Party aims to prevent is the so-called phantom filibuster that only increases public fatigue and the strategic stalling that paralyzes the National Assembly."

Meanwhile, on this day, Kim also pledged to designate December 3 as a legal memorial day for the democratization movement. He stated, "As President Lee Jaemyung promised, we will establish December 3 as the official Democratization Movement Memorial Day, the Day of National Sovereignty," and added, "We will ensure that the people's victory is recorded in the nation's history."

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