Ruling Party Announces "Filibuster on All Contested Bills" Amid Legislative Speed Race... Escalation of Confrontation Predicted (Comprehensive)

Ruling Party Plans to Process Broadcasting Act Amendments, Commercial Act, and Yellow Envelope Act in Plenary Session on August 4th

Opposition Party Vows "Unlimited Debate" on All Five Bills... "Filibuster Season" Expected to Resurface Approximately One Year Later

Democratic Party Floor Leader Kim Byeong-ki (left) - People Power Party Floor Leader Song Eon-seok [Photo by Park Dong-ju] 2025.7.9 [Photo by Kim Ju-seong] 2025.7.11

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Kim Seung-wook, Kim Young-shin, Jo Da-un reporters = The ruling and opposition parties have signaled fierce confrontation on July 30th ahead of the final plenary session of the July extraordinary session of the National Assembly (August 4th) regarding the processing of contested bills.

While the Democratic Party maintains its stance of "processing contested bills" within the July parliamentary session, the People Power Party has announced its intention to filibuster (legally obstruct legislative progress through unlimited debate) all bills, making a "filibuster confrontation season" increasingly likely.

A similar situation is expected to recur approximately one year later, as the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the processing of contested bills, including the Broadcasting Act, in July of last year, leading to a multi-day filibuster season.

The People Power Party, in a meeting of standing committee floor leaders chaired by Interim Leader and Floor Leader Song Eon-seok on the afternoon of the 30th, decided to engage in unlimited debate on all five contested bills if they are put to a vote in the plenary session on August 4th at the initiative of the Democratic Party.

The five contested bills include the Broadcasting Act Amendments (amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Korea Communications Commission Act, and the Educational Broadcasting System Act), amendments to the Commercial Act, and the Yellow Envelope Act (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act).

By the morning of the 30th, the People Power Party had confirmed its plan to filibuster the Broadcasting Act Amendments, but in the afternoon meeting, they expanded the scope to all five contested bills.

The People Power Party plans to have dedicated filibusters for the Commercial Act and the Yellow Envelope Act in their respective standing committees (Legislation and Judiciary Committee and Environment and Labor Committee), while for the Broadcasting Act Amendments, one member will participate in unlimited debate from each of the main standing committees along with the Science, ICT, Future, and Broadcasting Committee.

Earlier, interim leader Song had told reporters after the meeting of senior lawmakers on the morning of the 30th, "As a minority party, if negotiations fail, the only option is a filibuster." He added, "If contested bills are introduced, we will continue unlimited debate on each bill."

However, even if the People Power Party attempts to block the passage of these bills through filibusters, the Democratic Party, holding an absolute majority of seats, can terminate the debate and proceed to a vote on the bills 24 hours after the filibuster begins, in accordance with the National Assembly Act.

Meeting between Speaker Woo Won-shik and floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ju-seong = National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, Democratic Party Acting Leader and Floor Leader Kim Byeong-ki, and People Power Party Interim Leader and Floor Leader Song Eon-seok held a meeting and took a commemorative photo in the Speaker's office at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on July 23rd.

From left: Democratic Party Senior Deputy Floor Leader Moon Jin-seok, Interim Leader Kim Byeong-ki, Speaker Woo, Interim Leader Song Eon-seok, People Power Party Senior Deputy Floor Leader Yoo Sang-bum. 2025.7.23 [Joint Coverage] utzza@yna.co.kr

The Democratic Party plans to postpone the processing of bills to the August extraordinary session if they cannot all be passed within the July session due to the People Power Party's filibuster.

In a text message sent to lawmakers on the 30th, the Democratic Party's floor leadership stated, "The plenary session on the 4th is expected to continue until midnight on the 5th due to the People Power Party's announced filibuster," and added, "If any bills are not processed due to the filibuster, they will be processed in the August session."

They are carefully considering the order in which bills will be introduced.

This is because, unless an extraordinary session is convened immediately following the July session, only one bill can physically be passed within the July session.

Considering summer holidays and the National Assembly Speaker's schedule, the August session is highly likely to begin on August 16th.

The Democratic Party is reportedly prohibiting its lawmakers from traveling abroad during that period, anticipating a plenary session on August 21st, until the bill processing is completed.

However, the possibility of an August session opening immediately after the July session concludes at midnight on August 5th cannot be ruled out.

This is due to speculation that a "bulletproof National Assembly" may be convened, with the People Power Party requesting the convening of an extraordinary session in conjunction with the possibility of arrest and detention warrants being issued against People Power Party lawmakers in special counsel investigations.

Incumbent National Assembly members are protected by immunity from arrest and detention without the consent of the National Assembly during a session. Yonhap News