Ruling party pushes ahead with 'offense of distorting the law' and Third Commercial Act amendment; opposition warns of filibuster

The People Power Party (PPP) announced on the 3rd that if the Democratic Party of Korea pushes through the creation of a new criminal offense of "distorting the law" at a plenary session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, it will respond with a filibuster, an unlimited debate tactic permitted under parliamentary rules to block or delay proceedings. The party also stated that the Third Amendment Bill to the Commercial Act, which would mandate the cancellation of treasury shares, requires more thorough deliberation.
Kwak Gyu-taek, the PPP’s chief deputy floor spokesperson, told reporters after a PPP strategy meeting at the National Assembly, "If there is an attempt to introduce the offense of distorting the law, we plan to mobilize all necessary response tools, including a filibuster."
The PPP argues that even an amendment to the espionage offense, which the party has adopted as its official position and which both the government and ruling bloc see as necessary, is being delayed because the Democratic Party of Korea is trying to insert the new offense of distorting the law into the same legislative package. The core of the espionage offense amendment is to expand the scope of the crime from activities involving an "enemy state" to those involving any "foreign state," and like the offense of distorting the law, it requires a revision of the Criminal Act.
On this point, Kwak noted, "On the espionage offense amendment, the ruling and opposition parties are in a position where an agreement is possible, but because the offense of distorting the law has been tacked on, it has become difficult to even discuss the espionage offense."
With a plenary session scheduled for the 5th, the Democratic Party of Korea has also signaled that it may pass the Third Amendment Bill to the Commercial Act. The bill is to be reviewed on the 3rd by a subcommittee of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly, and the party aims to put it to a vote at a full committee meeting as early as the 4th and at the plenary session on the 5th. Kim Hyun-jung, the Democratic Party’s deputy floor spokesperson, said, "The Third Amendment Bill to the Commercial Act is one of the bills we intend to process first," adding, "As long as negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties go smoothly, there should be no problem handling it at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee between the 3rd and 4th."
In response, Kwak said, "On the mandatory cancellation of treasury shares, many companies have expressed concerns, and if you look at the reasons why companies acquire treasury shares, there are voices saying you should not impose a blanket obligation to cancel them," adding, "That is why the People Power Party is insisting that sufficient discussion is necessary."
haeram@fnnews.com Lee Hae-ram Reporter