Final Rejection of Broadcasting 4 Laws, 250,000 Won Support Fund Law, and Yellow Envelope Law... Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Human Rights Committee Member Selection (Comprehensive)

President Yoon's Veto on 6 Bills All Rejected
Democratic Party "Condemns" People Power Party "Must Proceed with Session"
Ruling and Opposition Clash Over National Human Rights Commission Member Selection

All six bills that were resubmitted to the National Assembly following the president's veto were rejected. They failed to surpass the reconsideration threshold, which requires a majority of the total members of the National Assembly to be present and at least two-thirds of the attending members to approve. All the bills will be automatically discarded.

On the afternoon of the 26th, the ruling and opposition parties held a vote again in the plenary session of the National Assembly on the four broadcasting-related laws (Broadcasting and Communications Commission Act, Broadcasting Act, Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act, Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act amendments) that the president had vetoed, as well as the nationwide 250,000 won support fund bill and the Yellow Envelope Act (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act). The vote count showed that all six bills failed to meet the reconsideration criteria, with more than 108 opposing votes out of a total of 299 votes.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with other lawmakers, is shouting slogans urging the immediate promulgation of the Labor Union Act and the Three Broadcasting Laws at the National Assembly in November last year. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In addition to the reconsidered bills, the National Assembly is preparing to vote on 77 livelihood bills agreed upon by both parties in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The Democratic Party of Korea left the plenary session hall to hold a protest rally in response to the rejection of the reconsideration. As a result, the passage of the livelihood bills is also expected to face difficulties. When all opposition members left, Speaker Woo Won-shik did not proceed with the voting process and waited. The People Power Party strongly protested, claiming that the Speaker was supporting the Democratic Party, which was not following the parliamentary procedures.

Prior to the bill votes, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the rejection of the non-standing member appointment to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which is allocated to the ruling party. According to the National Assembly, the proposal to appoint Professor Han Seok-hoon as a non-standing member of the NHRC was rejected with 119 votes in favor, 173 against, and 6 abstentions out of 298 members present. It is analyzed that the opposition cast a large number of opposing votes against the ruling party's nominee. On the other hand, the proposal to appoint former Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Sook-jin, who was recommended by the opposition, as a standing member of the NHRC was approved with 281 votes in favor, 14 against, and 3 abstentions out of 298 members present.

On the afternoon of the 26th, at the plenary session held at the National Assembly, after the nomination of Han Seok-hoon, recommended by the ruling party, for the National Human Rights Commission was rejected, People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho (left) and Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae are seen entering the meeting room again after a conversation.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

After a roughly 30-minute recess caused by the People Power Party's protest, the two parties clashed again through parliamentary remarks. Bae Jun-young, the senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "This is my fifth year in the National Assembly, and this is the first time I have spoken from the podium with such a heavy heart. It is very painful." He added, "I recently received a report from the National Police Agency that fraud crimes in our country are increasingly rampant and worrisome. I never expected to be deceived even in the National Assembly plenary hall." He emphasized that the senior deputy floor leaders of both parties had agreed on the appointment of the NHRC members, but the Democratic Party unilaterally rejected the ruling party's nominee.

In response, Park Sung-joon, the senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party, denied any knowledge of the recommendation of Professor Han. The opposition explained that during the Democratic Party's caucus meeting, Representative Seo Mi-hwa expressed opposition, and members voted autonomously. Park said, "Isn't the public being deceived in South Korea right now?" He added, "The entire nation is angry at the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, and the whole nation is crying out that they have been deceived. Does the People Power Party not realize this?" He further stated, "What the people want is for the legislature to strongly monitor and check the personnel issues of the Yoon administration."

Seo Mi-hwa, a first-term proportional representative lawmaker, expressed opposition to the election of Professor Han Seok-hoon as a non-standing member of the Human Rights Commission at the Democratic Party caucus held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 26th.
[Photo by Seo Mi-hwa's Office]

Representative Seo Mi-hwa claimed, "The rejection of the reappointment of 'anti-human rights bodyguard' Han Seok-hoon as a non-standing member is a just outcome." She argued, "The very fact that they tried to extend the term of a person who should never have been appointed in the first place shows that the Yoon administration blatantly disregards the people." Professor Han has held the position of non-standing member of the NHRC since 2021.

Ruling party members began shouting slogans calling Park a "fraudster" in response to his criticism of the administration. Democratic Party members responded by shouting "Yoon Seok-yeol" immediately after the "fraudster" chants.