People Power Party Criticizes Unilateral Passage of Broadcasting Three Laws, Yellow Envelope Act, and Commercial Act: "Democratic Party Has Abandoned the Economy"

"Democratic Party Ignores Requests from Korea's Economic and Industrial Sectors"

On August 1, the People Power Party criticized the passage of the Broadcasting Three Laws, the Yellow Envelope Act (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act), and the second amendment to the Commercial Act through the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, stating, "The Democratic Party has abandoned our economy and democracy."

Members of the People Power Party on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly's press center that afternoon, saying, "Today, the Democratic Party unilaterally passed the amendments to the Trade Union Act, the Commercial Act, and the Broadcasting Three Laws in the committee. Chairman Lee Choonseok forced the debate to end after allowing each party to speak only once or twice during the plenary session. Democratic Party lawmakers acted as rubber stamps and ultimately abandoned our economy and democracy."

On the 1st, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, during the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held to review and decide on the Broadcasting Three Acts, the Yellow Envelope Act, and the Commercial Act, the Broadcasting Three Acts were passed. Meanwhile, lawmakers including Park Hyungsu, the floor leader of the People Power Party in the committee, protested to Chairman Lee Choonseok regarding the conclusion of the debate and the operation of the committee. Photo by Yonhap News

They continued, "In order to carry out President Lee Jaemyung's directive for 'speed over perfection,' they ignored the earnest requests from Korea's economic and industrial sectors to 'reconsider in the National Assembly,' and also disregarded the opinions of the public and the opposition party."

Regarding the Broadcasting Three Laws, the People Power Party stated, "This bill allows the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the National Union of Media Workers, and civic groups, which have shared political interests with the Democratic Party, to permanently control and dominate public broadcasters such as KBS, MBC, and EBS," adding, "It is an unconstitutional bill that infringes on the management and personnel rights of broadcasting companies."

About the Yellow Envelope Act, they said, "It is a law that seriously undermines the management stability of companies, encourages illegal strikes, worsens the investment environment, destroys jobs, and devastates the economy." Regarding the amendment to the Commercial Act, they also criticized, "Pushing through additional amendments without verifying the effects of the first amendment undermines legal stability and predictability, making it a hasty and reckless legislation."

The People Power Party emphasized, "Today’s act of parliamentary dictatorship committed by the Democratic Party in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee proves that President Lee Jaemyung's words?'the government of national sovereignty will be a practical market-oriented government' and 'we will improve the system based on trust to guarantee maximum corporate autonomy'?were empty promises."

They added, "The People Power Party cannot stand by while militant unions and groups with specific political orientations permanently seize and dominate our country's public broadcasters. We cannot watch as amendments to the Trade Union Act and Commercial Act destroy our companies and industrial ecosystem, leading to the disappearance of jobs in Korea. We will fight to the end together with the people."