EBS Act Amendment Passed as Filibuster Ends... Yellow Envelope Act and Commercial Act Await Votes

The amendment to the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act (EBS Act), the last of the three broadcasting laws (the Broadcasting Act, the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act, and the EBS Act), has been passed. However, the political climate is expected to remain dominated by filibusters throughout the weekend regarding the Yellow Envelope Act (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act), which is the most contentious bill, and the second round of amendments to the Commercial Act.

At the plenary session held on August 22, the National Assembly, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, passed the EBS Act amendment with 179 votes in favor and 1 against out of 180 members present. The People Power Party, which had staged a filibuster against the passage of the EBS Act since the previous day, did not participate in the vote.

Previously, Hyeongdu Choi, a member of the People Power Party and the first speaker in the EBS Act amendment filibuster, argued against the bill for approximately 13 hours and 27 minutes, from 10:42 a.m. on the previous day until 12:09 a.m. on the 22nd. He claimed that granting the authority to recommend EBS board members to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' media union would subordinate public broadcasting. Jeongheon Lee, a member of the Democratic Party, spoke from around 12:09 a.m. to 10:56 a.m. on the same day, emphasizing the role of public broadcasting and explaining the purpose of the bill. Kim Byungjoo, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, also pointed out, "It seems that the People Power Party does not want to return the media to the people."

On the 21st, Hyeongdu Choi, a member of the People Power Party, is conducting a filibuster as the partial amendment bill to the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act (EBS Act) was submitted at the National Assembly plenary session. 2025.8.21 Photo by Hyunmin Kim

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The standoff between the ruling and opposition parties over filibusters is expected to continue through this weekend. Filibusters and votes on the Yellow Envelope Act and the second round of Commercial Act amendments are scheduled consecutively from August 23 to 25. On the morning of the 22nd, Song Eonseok, interim leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, stated at a party strategy meeting at the National Assembly, "This is an economic insurrection law that drives companies overseas and cripples investment and growth. The Democratic Party, which is trying to push through such a law unilaterally, is an economic insurrection force."

There is growing interest in whether there will be changes to the filibuster strategy. During the filibuster on the Broadcasting Act, which passed on the 5th, it proceeded in the order of Dongwook Shin of the People Power Party, Hyun Kim of the Democratic Party, Sanghwi Lee of the People Power Party, and Jongmyun Noh of the Democratic Party. In the case of the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act, Kim Jangkyum of the People Power Party began a filibuster immediately after the vote on the Broadcasting Act, but it ended automatically after about seven hours due to the conclusion of the July extraordinary session. Yoo Sangbeom, senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, told Asia Economy, "Not even giving the opposition a chance to speak during a mere 24-hour filibuster shows a fundamental lack of understanding of democracy."

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