Kim Byung-ki (left), floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Moon Jin-seok, senior deputy floor leader, Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, and Yoo Sang-beom, senior deputy floor leader, are seen at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Sept. 23, to discuss the proposed government organizational law revision, among other matters. Yonhap News.

The floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties met at the National Assembly on the 23rd to discuss the proposed government organizational law revision and other matters, but, following the previous day, failed to reach an agreement again.

Consequently, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to enter into another filibuster (legally obstructing parliamentary proceedings through unlimited debate) confrontation at the plenary session on the 25th.

Kim Byung-ki, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Moon Jin-seok, senior deputy floor leader for party affairs, along with Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, and Yoo Sang-beom, senior deputy floor leader, discussed agenda items for the plenary session at the National Assembly's Steering Committee Chairman's office on the afternoon of the 23rd.

The two sides failed to narrow their differences during the approximately 30-minute meeting and did not schedule any further meetings.

In response, the Democratic Party decided to finalize the legislative process on the 25th after passing through the Steering Committee and Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary sessions on the 24th.

The plan is to prioritize the proposed government organizational law revision, which centers on the abolition of the Prosecutor's Office and the reorganization of economic ministries, the installation of the Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee Act, the amendment of the National Assembly Act, the amendment of the rules concerning the number of members of National Assembly standing committees, and the amendment of the National Assembly Testimony and Evidence Act (Testimony Act), for processing at the plenary session. Additionally, approximately 60 non-contentious livelihood-related bills will be presented together.

Conversely, the People Power Party opposes the abolition of the Prosecutor's Office, citing potential chaos in the criminal justice system. Regarding the Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee Act, they argue it is a "legislative act to oust" existing committee chairperson Lee Jin-sook.

Therefore, the People Power Party argued that the proposed government organizational law revision should be postponed at the plenary session on the 25th and non-contentious livelihood bills should be processed first. However, with the failure to reach an agreement, it is expected that they will effectively resort to the filibuster tactic.

It is anticipated that the People Power Party may conduct an "unlimited" filibuster not only on contentious bills such as the proposed government organizational law revision but also on non-contentious bills. In such a scenario, the filibuster confrontation could continue for at least 60 days.

Song Eon-seok told reporters after the meeting, "I conveyed my opinion that it would be good to process livelihood bills first before the major Chuseok holiday, but we were unable to reach an agreement due to the Democratic Party's determination to 'prioritize and process matters related to the government organizational law, and if no agreement is reached, to push it through unilaterally'."

Kim Byung-ki stated, "We will proceed with processing the bills as scheduled at the Steering Committee plenary session tomorrow," adding, "If the People Power Party initiates a filibuster, we will respond."

Yonhap News