Democratic Party to Pass Special Court Division Bill for Insurrection Cases Before Christmas... "Vote Around 11 a.m. on the 24th"

Information and Communications Network Act to be voted on December 23,
Special Court Division Bill for Insurrection Cases on December 24
Revised Bills to Be Passed Directly in Plenary Session,
Bypassing the Legislation and Judiciary Committee
Confirmation Vote for Kim Hocheol as Chairperson of the Board of Audit and Inspection Scheduled for December 30

The Democratic Party of Korea has finalized its plan to pass the bill establishing a special court division for insurrection trials before Christmas. In response to the People Power Party’s unlimited debate (filibuster), the party intends to bring the Information and Communications Network Act to a plenary session for a vote on December 23, and the bill to establish the special court division for insurrection cases on December 24.

On December 18, Kim Hyunjung, Floor Spokesperson for the Democratic Party, announced the legislative schedule to reporters after the Policy Coordination Meeting held at the National Assembly. Kim stated, "The plenary session is scheduled to convene at 10 a.m. on the 22nd. Over the three days from the 22nd to the 24th, there will be two agenda items: the first is the Information and Communications Network Act, and the second is the bill on the special court division for insurrection cases." She added, "If the People Power Party launches a filibuster, the vote on the special court division bill will likely take place around 11 a.m. on the 24th."

Kim Byung-ki, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Policy Coordination Meeting held at the National Assembly on December 18, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Regarding the special court division bill, she explained, "There will be a general assembly of party members, as per party policy, before the plenary session on the 23rd." Addressing the controversy over the eligibility of the Judicial Representatives’ Conference to recommend judges for the division, she said, "The Judicial Representatives’ Conference exists under the Supreme Court regulations," and added, "Even if it does not constitute a majority, we plan to draft the bill so that recommendations can also be made by the Judicial Representatives’ Conference."

The bill is expected to be processed in the form of a revised proposal directly at the plenary session, without going through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. In response to some Democratic Party members on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee suggesting that the crime of judicial distortion should be addressed first, Kim, the Floor Spokesperson, stated, "We have not considered that," and added, "Given the schedule, it is impossible to handle it within this year."

Meanwhile, regarding the confirmation hearing for Kim Hocheol, nominee for Chairperson of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Kim, the Floor Spokesperson, said, "After the hearing schedule is completed, we plan to hold a single-item plenary session on the 30th to process the appointment motion."