Second Day of Filibuster... 'Broadcasting Act' Expected to Pass at Plenary Session

July Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly Ends Today

Among the so-called 'Three Broadcasting Laws' (the amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Association Act, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act), which the Democratic Party of Korea is pushing to pass in the National Assembly, the Broadcasting Act is expected to be processed at the plenary session on the afternoon of August 5.

Shin Dongwook, a member of the People Power Party, is conducting an unlimited debate (filibuster) related to the submission of the "Broadcasting Three Acts (Amendments to the Broadcasting Act, Broadcasting Culture Promotion Agency Act, and Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act)" at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On August 4, National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik accepted the Democratic Party's request and put the amendment to the Broadcasting Act, which centers on reforming the governance structure of public broadcasters, on the agenda at the plenary session. The People Power Party will launch its second day of filibuster on August 5, using unlimited debate and other legal procedures to delay or obstruct the decision-making process. Since the Democratic Party submitted a motion to end the debate just three minutes after the filibuster began on the afternoon of August 4, the filibuster can be forcibly ended by a vote around 4 p.m. on August 5, after 24 hours have passed, and the Broadcasting Act can be processed swiftly.

According to the National Assembly Act, if at least three-fifths of the total 298 members, that is, 179 or more, agree, the filibuster can be forcibly ended by a vote 24 hours after it begins. Currently, the Democratic Party holds 167 seats, and when combined with friendly seats from the Rebuilding Korea Innovation Party and the Progressive Party, the total reaches 190. Song Eonseok, the Emergency Response Committee Chair and Floor Leader, stated at the floor countermeasures meeting on August 5, "We will mobilize all legal means, including filing a constitutional complaint, to block this," signaling a firm stance.

The Democratic Party plans to process the remaining broadcasting-related bills, the Yellow Envelope Act (the amendment to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act), and the amendment to the Commercial Act during the August extraordinary session of the National Assembly, which begins on August 21. While the People Power Party plans to continue the filibuster, the Democratic Party is likely to proceed with the 24-hour debate closure procedure and process the remaining bills one by one. If this happens, it will take about four days in total to process the remaining contentious bills.