People Power Party Submits Resolution Urging Speaker Woo Wonshik to Resign Over Forced End to Filibuster

Speaker Woo: "Adjourning During Filibuster Is Not an Abuse of Authority"

The People Power Party has submitted a resolution calling for the resignation of Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, after he forcibly ended a filibuster (unlimited debate) for the first time in 61 years.

Choi Eunseok, Chief Spokesperson for the People Power Party's parliamentary group, met with reporters at the National Assembly on the 11th after submitting the resolution, criticizing, "He has completely ignored the political neutrality that a Speaker must uphold and has colluded with the Democratic Party, demonstrating that he is wholly unqualified to serve as Speaker."

Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, points out Rep. Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party, who engaged in unlimited debate on the amendment to the Franchise Business Act during the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 9th, for making remarks unrelated to the bill. 2025.12.9 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Previously, on the last day of the regular session on the 9th, Speaker Woo turned off the microphone during People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyungwon's filibuster and subsequently adjourned the session. This was the first time since the introduction of the filibuster system in 2012 that the Speaker adjourned a plenary session during a filibuster without agreement between the ruling and opposition parties.

Choi, the Chief Spokesperson, pointed out, "In the past, even when Democratic Party lawmakers engaged in misconduct such as reading novels or singing during unlimited debates, there was not a single instance where proceedings were halted or the microphone was turned off. The various acts Speaker Woo committed during the People Power Party's unlimited debate amount to an abuse of authority."

Regarding plans to file a legal complaint against Speaker Woo, he said, "We will proceed with additional legal measures after further internal review."

In response, Speaker Woo stated, "It is not reasonable to claim that adjourning the session during a filibuster constitutes an abuse of authority." He argued, "Article 106-2 of the National Assembly Act stipulates that debates are not subject to time limits, while Article 102 states that remarks unrelated to the agenda or of a different nature than permitted are not allowed. If these rules are not followed, Article 145 of the Act allows for warnings or sanctions."