"Filibuster Restriction Bill" Passes Judiciary Committee Led by Ruling Party Just 6 Hours After Clearing Steering Committee

Swift Passage Without Deliberation Period
National Assembly Act Amendment Clears Judiciary Committee Led by Democratic Party

On December 3, the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, passed a revision to the National Assembly Act that includes stricter requirements for unlimited debate (filibuster). The bill passed through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee less than six hours after clearing the Steering Committee.

Choo Mi-ae, Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and a member of the Democratic Party, included the alternative bill to the National Assembly Act, which had passed the Steering Committee earlier that morning, in the agenda for the committee’s review of legislative structure and wording by moving for a change in the order of business at the full committee meeting. According to the National Assembly Act, bills that pass a standing committee are subject to a five-day deliberation period. However, this bill was processed immediately without the deliberation period through a resolution. Members of the Democratic Party, the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, and independent lawmakers voted in favor of the change in schedule and the bill itself by a show of hands, resulting in the swift passage of the amendment. Of the 17 committee members present, 11 voted in favor. All six People Power Party members abstained.

Na Kyung-won, a member of the People Power Party, is requesting a parliamentary procedure speech at the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 3rd, mentioning allegations of sexual harassment against Jang Kyung-tae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. 2025.12.3 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

The alternative bill to the National Assembly Act passed the full session of the Steering Committee at 11 a.m. that day. The amendment allows the Speaker of the National Assembly to transfer the right to preside over the session to another member during a filibuster. It also stipulates that if less than one-fifth of all members are present in the plenary chamber during a filibuster, a negotiation bloc may request to end the filibuster. In addition, the amendment establishes electronic voting as the default method for anonymous voting in the Assembly.

Na Kyung-won, a member of the People Power Party, criticized the bill, saying, "This bill strips away the only remaining filibuster rights," and added, "In the end, it seems intended to change the law to push through so-called 'judicial destruction laws.'" She further stated, "There are things that can and cannot be done," and urged, "Do not turn the National Assembly into a dictatorship run at the whim of the Democratic Party."

Jang Kyung-tae, a Democratic Party lawmaker, commented, "This law is meaningful in that it makes filibusters more substantive, so they no longer become meaningless," and added, "If the opposition wants to filibuster, they should have to sit and listen to the debate." Regarding concerns about transferring the Speaker's authority to a non-elected member, he said, "Delegating the right to preside is different from electing someone," and expressed hope that the amendment would be passed during the regular session.

With the amendment to the National Assembly Act having passed the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, it is expected to be brought to a vote at the plenary session.