Tears Shed While Offering Words of Encouragement
to Visiting Elementary Students During
Filibuster Opposing Abolition of Prosecutors' Office
Park Sumin, a member of the People Power Party, broke the record for the longest filibuster in history on the 26th. She delivered a 17-hour and 12-minute speech opposing the amendment to the Government Organization Act, which centers on the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office, surpassing her own previous record of 15 hours and 50 minutes.
Park began the filibuster as the first speaker at around 6:30 p.m. the previous day and concluded her speech at approximately 11:42 a.m. on this day. She continued her remarks through the night for a total of 17 hours and 12 minutes.
Park Sumin, a member of the People Power Party, is conducting an unlimited debate (filibuster) on the partial amendment bill of the Government Organization Act at the National Assembly plenary session on the 26th. Park has been continuing the debate for over 13 hours. September 26, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
The previous record for the longest filibuster was also set by Park in August of last year, when she spoke for 15 hours and 50 minutes to oppose the passage of the "250,000 Won Universal Payment Act." At that time, the People Power Party strongly objected to the bill, calling it the "cash handout law," and Park stayed up all night to deliver her opposition speech when the bill was brought to the plenary session.
During her speech, Park criticized the amendment to the Government Organization Act being pushed by the government and the ruling party, saying, "This is a major overhaul, almost a complete reorganization. How can something like this be done in just ten days?" She continued, "Setting a date and rushing through it is not just a predetermined answer, but a predetermined date." She also emphasized, "If the sign of the Prosecutors' Office is removed and the Prosecution Service and the Serious Crime Investigation Agency are established, do you think the 13,000 prosecutors and investigators will simply step aside? You need to build a new house before tearing down the old one."
Around 10 a.m., after about 15 hours and 30 minutes of her speech, Park became emotional and shed tears while offering words of encouragement to elementary school students who were visiting the gallery. She told them, "You are the ones who will live through the times ahead. Your future is a time that no one has ever walked before. All you need to do is walk your own path," as she was moved to tears.
She went on to say, "The National Assembly is a place where the nation's affairs are discussed, and there is only one standard for making decisions: what is good for those who will live in the future, like you." She added, "I don't know if we are doing well. If we were, I wouldn't have to stay up all night debating. But I believe that if we keep doing things one by one like this, things will gradually improve." Park is a mother of two sons and three daughters.
In response, Song Eonseok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, posted on his social media on this day, "This is a record set by staying up all night without sleep, starting from 6:30 p.m. yesterday. Truly remarkable." He then criticized the government and ruling party, saying, "After breaking their agreement with our party, they overturned the financial supervisory system reform overnight. This is an amateur administration running the country like a college club."
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