Ruling and Opposition Parties Fail to Agree on Government Organization Act Amendment... Talks to Resume Tomorrow

The floor leadership of both the ruling and opposition parties discussed the amendment to the Government Organization Act and other issues on September 22, but failed to reach an agreement.

Kim Byunggi, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party, Moon Jinseok, Deputy Floor Manager for Operations, Song Unseok, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, and Yoo Sangbeom, Deputy Floor Manager for Operations, met that afternoon in the office of the National Assembly Steering Committee Chair.

Democratic Party Floor Leader Kim Byunggi and Deputy Floor Manager for Operations Moon Jinseok (left photo), and People Power Party Floor Leader Song Unseok and Deputy Floor Manager for Operations Yoo Sangbeom (right photo) are leaving after meeting on the 22nd at the National Assembly to discuss the government organization reform plan. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

As the floor leaders of both parties were unable to find common ground during the meeting, they agreed to continue negotiations on September 23.

The Democratic Party plans to handle the amendment to the Government Organization Act-which includes provisions such as the abolition of the Prosecutors’ Office and the restructuring of economic ministries-along with the Act on the Establishment of the Broadcasting Media Communications Committee, the amendment to the National Assembly Act, the amendment to the rules regarding the number of members of standing committees, and the amendment to the National Assembly Testimony and Appraisal Act (Testimony and Appraisal Act), at the plenary session scheduled for September 25.

In response, the People Power Party is considering launching a filibuster (a legitimate obstruction of proceedings through unlimited debate) against the amendment to the Government Organization Act and other bills, criticizing what they call "legislative unilateralism."

It is reported that the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the issue of filibustering bills scheduled for the plenary session during the meeting.

After the meeting, Deputy Floor Manager for Operations Moon told reporters, "The People Power Party says they will filibuster the contentious bills, and they may also filibuster the non-contentious bills (69 in total)."

Floor Leader Song said, "We are exchanging various opinions on the government organization reform and are continuing discussions."