Failure to Pass the Press Arbitration Act... Plenary Session Postponed to the 28th (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Lee Hyun-joo] The Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party ultimately failed to reach a conclusion on the submission of the Act on the Mediation of Media Disputes and Victim Relief (Media Arbitration Act) amendment bill to the National Assembly plenary session on the 27th and turned away. The two parties agreed to meet again on the morning of the 28th, presided over by National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok, to continue negotiations related to the Media Arbitration Act.

Yoon Ho-jung, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, are entering the meeting room on the 27th at the National Assembly to attempt last-minute negotiations over the plenary session submission of the "Media Arbitration Act Amendment Bill." Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

On the day, Yoon Ho-jung, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, met with reporters after negotiations between the floor leaders of both parties at the Speaker’s office and said, "The plenary session scheduled for today will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m.," adding, "We agreed to continue negotiations with the Speaker again at 11 a.m. on the 28th."

Floor leader Yoon said, "There are many difficulties and issues regarding the agreement on the Media Arbitration Act, but we will do our best to reach a consensus until the very end."

The biggest issue in the September National Assembly plenary session is the Media Arbitration Act. The ruling and opposition parties recently formed an eight-member consultative body over about a month to prepare an amendment bill and agreed to submit it to the plenary session on this day, but failed to produce a final agreement.

Among them, the most contentious issue between the ruling and opposition parties is the 'punitive damages system.'

The Democratic Party has taken a step back by lowering the amount of damages from the existing 'up to five times' to 'up to 50 million won or three times the damage amount,' but the People Power Party demands complete deletion, arguing that it suppresses freedom of the press and infringes on the public’s right to know. Another contentious issue, the 'right to request article viewing blockage,' was proposed by the Democratic Party to be introduced only in core areas of privacy, but the People Power Party opposes it, saying it is highly prone to abuse and should not be introduced.

Kim Gi-hyeon, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at a meeting with reporters after the floor leaders’ negotiations on the day, "We have been conducting long negotiations regarding media-related laws, but it is difficult to bring opinions closer together."

Before tomorrow’s plenary session, the Democratic Party plans to hold a party meeting to discuss major issues such as the Media Arbitration Act and the Sejong Assembly Hall Act. Afterwards, they intend to proceed with the bill’s passage in the plenary session, so attention is focused on whether the ruling and opposition parties’ agreement on the Media Arbitration Act will be passed on this day.