[National Assembly Without Bipartisan Cooperation] Debate Disappears as Verbal Abuse Escalates... Record Number of Disciplinary Motions Against Lawmakers Looms

A Total of 48 Disciplinary Motions Submitted by Both Parties in the 22nd National Assembly
Likely to Surpass the Record of 57 Set by the 18th National Assembly
Violations of the National Assembly Act, Personal Attacks, and Abusive Language Among

The number of disciplinary motions against lawmakers submitted to the 22nd National Assembly is expected to surpass all previous records. This is seen as a reflection of the National Assembly having become a battleground of verbal abuse rather than a forum for rational debate. Experts unanimously agree that, in order to restore bipartisan cooperation, the National Assembly must return to the democratic fundamentals of restraint and tolerance.

Disciplinary Motions Against Lawmakers Set to Reach All-Time High

According to the National Assembly Bill Information System on December 16, a total of 48 disciplinary motions against lawmakers have been submitted by both the ruling and opposition parties since the start of the 22nd National Assembly. Of these, 23 were against members of the People Power Party and 18 against members of the Democratic Party. This is three times higher than the 16 motions submitted during the first year and six months of the 21st National Assembly, which began its term on May 30, 2020. Considering that more than half of the 22nd National Assembly’s term remains, it is highly likely that the number of disciplinary motions over four years will surpass the previous record of 57 set during the 18th National Assembly.

The disciplinary motions have mainly involved violations of the National Assembly Act, personal attacks against fellow lawmakers, and abusive language. Observers point out that this is the result of intensifying partisan confrontation, leading to the disregard of even the most basic procedures and norms within the National Assembly. The Legislation and Judiciary Committee, a key standing committee, is a prime example. Since the Democratic Party voted down the appointment of Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party as opposition secretary in September, the committee has become an “extreme battleground.” The People Power Party requested disciplinary action against Chairwoman Chu Mi-ae, while the Democratic Party and others responded by submitting a disciplinary motion against Assemblywoman Na. The committee continues to operate in a state of virtual civil war, failing to implement the National Assembly Act’s requirement that each negotiation group appoint one secretary per standing committee. A committee official lamented, “There’s not even any practical discussion to set the meeting schedule, let alone debate on bills. In other committees, people now say, ‘Do you want to end up like the Legislation and Judiciary Committee?’ whenever arguments break out.”

The main chamber, where the ruling party’s forced passage of bills clashes with the opposition’s filibusters, has also become a flashpoint for disciplinary motions. Most recently, Na Kyung-won and Kwak Gyutaek of the People Power Party were subject to disciplinary requests from the Democratic Party for allegedly disrupting proceedings with off-topic statements during a filibuster, in violation of Article 102 of the National Assembly Act.

Yonhap News Agency

Yonhap News Agency

“Both Sides Must Move Beyond the ‘Insurrection’ Frame”

Political commentator Kim Cheolhyeon stated, “The reason the Yoon Suk-yeol administration failed was because it identified the opposition as an anti-state force that needed to be eliminated. The current government and ruling party also view the opposition as anti-constitutional and anti-democratic, and are pushing through reform bills by force.” Cho Jinman, professor of political science and diplomacy at Duksung Women’s University, said, “If the People Power Party resolves this ‘insurrection’ frame, it will create a situation where the government and ruling party must pay attention to the opposition.”

There are also calls to restore the democratic basics of restraint and tolerance. Lee Jaemook, professor of political science and diplomacy at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, commented, “Former President Yoon Suk-yeol played the martial law card, and the Democratic Party keeps trying to change the system by toughening filibuster requirements and so on. It is wrong to employ such extreme measures as a matter of principle.”

Kim Cheolhyeon, the political commentator, saw a glimmer of hope for bipartisan cooperation in the agreement on the budget bill during the regular session. He said, “The Democratic Party needs to show good faith by stepping back. For bills that raise concerns, such as the law to establish a special court for insurrection cases, it is necessary to delay their passage and pursue them through public discussion.”