Ruling and Opposition Parties Face Off in Filibuster Standoff as Year-End Legislative Tensions Escalate

Ruling Party Introduces Franchise Business Act Amendment, Opposition Launches Full Filibuster
"Obstructing Livelihood Bills" vs "Halt the Eight Major Evil Bills"
Tent Protests and Emergency Actions Announced... Standoff Between Parties Expected to C

On December 9, the ruling and opposition parties entered a filibuster (unlimited debate) standoff after last-minute negotiations failed regarding the introduction of contentious bills ahead of the plenary session.

During the plenary session, the People Power Party launched a filibuster as soon as the amendment to the Franchise Business Act was introduced. The bill aims to guarantee bargaining rights for franchise owners with respect to franchisors.

Three bills-namely, the National Guarantee Agreement for Korea Student Aid Foundation Bonds, the National Guarantee Agreement for Supply Chain Stabilization Fund Bonds, and the National Guarantee Agreement for Advanced Strategic Industry Fund Bonds-were processed by bipartisan agreement, but the filibuster began with the first contentious bill that followed.

On the 9th, during the plenary session held at the National Assembly, Na Kyung-won, a member of the People Power Party, was conducting an unlimited debate (filibuster) when Woo Won-shik, the Speaker of the National Assembly, turned off the microphone. Members of both ruling and opposition parties came to the podium to protest. December 9, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the morning of December 9, the floor leaders of both parties met with Woo Won-shik, the Speaker of the National Assembly, but failed to narrow their differences on the handling of contentious bills, resulting in a postponement of the plenary session. Each party held its own general assembly for further discussion, but no agreement was reached.

Moon Geumjoo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, told reporters after the general assembly and the People Power Party's protest rally, "The People Power Party insisted on filibustering all the bills on the agenda, so no agreement was reached." Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, also stated after the general assembly, "We have reached a consensus to begin a filibuster starting with the fourth item on the plenary session agenda, the amendment to the Franchise Business Act."

Previously, the People Power Party had warned that it would launch a filibuster if the Democratic Party did not declare a halt to the forced passage of what it called the "eight major evil bills." The eight bills identified by the People Power Party are: the Act on Establishment of a Special Court for Insurrection Cases; the Act on the Introduction of the Crime of Judicial Distortion (Criminal Code Amendment); the Act on Increasing the Number of Supreme Court Justices (Court Organization Act Amendment); the Act on Introducing a Four-Tier Court System (Constitutional Court Act Amendment); the Amendment to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials Act (expanding the office's powers); the Act on Restricting the Installation of Political Party Banners (Outdoor Advertising Act Amendment); the Act on Introducing Punitive Damages for YouTube (Information and Communications Network Act Amendment); and the Act on Strengthening Filibuster Requirements (National Assembly Act Amendment).

The filibuster initiated by the People Power Party will automatically end at midnight, when the regular session of the National Assembly concludes. As a result, the Democratic Party plans to convene an extraordinary session on December 11 to put the amendment to the Franchise Business Act to a vote. However, it is not expected that the amendment to the National Assembly Act, which would restrict filibusters, will be introduced. Spokesperson Moon said, "Even if a filibuster takes place, our strategy is to pass three of the contentious bills between December 11 and 14," adding, "It would be difficult to introduce the National Assembly Act right away." Since the Rebuilding Korea Party is also opposed, the Democratic Party intends to take time to seek cooperation from minor opposition parties. In response, Floor Leader Song said, "We will coordinate on when and how to convene the extraordinary session."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party announced that it would launch emergency actions in response to the People Power Party's sit-in protest in front of the National Assembly. As a result, the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties is expected to remain intense through the end of the year.