People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seok explains pending issues at a lawmakers' meeting held at the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Committee meeting room on the 2nd. [Yonhap News]  

Song Eon-seok, the floor leader, warned on the 2nd that if the Democratic Party of Korea pushes for the passage of so-called judicial reform bills, the February extraordinary parliamentary session cannot operate normally.

At the lawmakers' meeting held immediately after the plenary session of the National Assembly on the same day, Song condemned the Democratic Party's proposed amendments to the Criminal Act (establishment of a crime of distorting judgment), the Constitutional Court Act (introduction of constitutional appeals), the increase in the number of Supreme Court justices, and the introduction of a fourth-instance trial system as "laws that will completely collapse the South Korean judicial system," and stated this.

He emphasized, "The Democratic Party's declaration that they will pass these laws during the February extraordinary session can be read as an expression of their will to unilaterally convene a plenary session on the 5th, after the negotiation group leaders' speeches on the day after tomorrow, and force their passage. We must fight to the end to prevent this."

He added, "We clearly state that normal operation of the February extraordinary session will be difficult unless the Democratic Party announces that it has no intention of forcibly passing these evil laws."

This is interpreted as the ruling party intending to engage in a public opinion battle through a full-scale filibuster (legally obstructing legislative proceedings through unlimited debate) on non-contentious livelihood bills if they proceed with the passage of judicial reform bills.

He also claimed that the Democratic Party is obstructing the passage of the amendment to the Criminal Act that expands the scope of espionage to include 'foreign countries or equivalent organizations' from the current 'enemy country'.

Song demanded, "The ruling party is obstructing the legislation of the amendment to the espionage law, which is for the protection of advanced industries, by linking it to the 'crime of distorting judgment.' Instead of being obstinate, they should suspend the passage of the crime of distorting judgment and quickly pass the amendment to the espionage law that was agreed upon by both parties."

Regarding National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik's proposal to hold a national referendum on constitutional amendment simultaneously with the June 3 local elections, he clearly expressed his opposition, saying, "I am very disappointed by the remarks that seem to take constitutional amendment as a fait accompli."

He raised his voice, saying, "Constitutional amendment requires much discussion for both the National Assembly and the national referendum process itself, so why are they treating the Constitution so lightly? I cannot agree. While the exchange rate is soaring due to botched trade negotiations, the public is groaning under high prices, and only ineffective real estate measures are being introduced, leading young people without homes in Seoul to feel as if a 'Seoul expulsion order' has been issued, why is constitutional amendment suddenly being discussed?"

About 70 of the 107 lawmakers affiliated with the People Power Party, as well as non-parliamentary supreme council members including Kim Min-soo, Cho Kwang-han, and Yang Hyang-ja, attended the lawmakers' meeting that day.