Ruling and Opposition Parties Remain at Odds Over Government Organization Act... Forced Passage Likely

Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Wonshik and the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties held negotiations regarding the handling of the Government Organization Act, but failed to reach an agreement. The Democratic Party insisted that the Government Organization Act should be processed first, while the People Power Party argued that bills already agreed upon by both parties should take precedence, resulting in a divergence of positions. Speaker Woo reportedly maintained the stance that the Government Organization Act should be prioritized.

On the 25th, Speaker Woo, Kim Byungki, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party, Song Unseok, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, and others met at the National Assembly to negotiate the agenda items to be handled at the plenary session, including the Government Organization Act.

Woo Wonshik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is meeting with the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties at the National Assembly on the 25th. From the left, Heo Young, Deputy Chief Policy Representative of the Democratic Party, Kim Byungki, Floor Leader, Speaker Woo, Song Unseok, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, and Yoo Sangbeom, Deputy Chief of Floor Operations. 2025.9.25 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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After leaving the negotiation room first, Floor Leader Song stated, "I proposed that we first submit and process the bills that have been agreed upon, but the Democratic Party insisted on bringing forward bills that have not been agreed upon and are even facing a filibuster, so our opinions diverged." Currently, there are four contentious bills between the two parties: the Government Organization Act, the Broadcasting and Media Communications Act, the National Assembly Act, and the National Assembly Testimony and Appraisal Act.

He added, "Each party has decided to gather further consensus at their respective general assemblies, but Speaker Woo has sided with the Democratic Party and declared that bills without agreement will be submitted first. We will convene a general assembly to determine our response."

Floor Leader Kim later told reporters, "I requested that the Government Organization Act be handled first," and added, "The Speaker will make the decision." He criticized, "The Government Organization Act is an urgent bill, but since the People Power Party has announced plans to filibuster, inevitably, the bills agreed upon this time cannot be submitted. It is unfair to handle agreed bills in such a manner."

Regarding further negotiations, Floor Leader Kim stated, "I do not think there is any point in further discussion." As a result, it appears that, without additional negotiations between the parties, a strong confrontation will ensue, with each side moving forward based on the outcome of their respective general assemblies-potentially leading to forced passage attempts and counter-filibusters.

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