Ruling and opposition parties clash ahead of Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Prosecution being tabled; filibuster standoff to continue through the 8th

[Financial News] National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik plans to table the Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Prosecution at the National Assembly plenary session on the 5th, and the filibuster (unlimited debate) standoff between the ruling and opposition parties is expected to continue through the 8th. The People Power Party has decided to counter the DPK’s insistence on passing contentious agenda items with filibusters on all items. Even last-ditch talks between the parties’ floor leadership have failed to narrow their differences, and opposition lawmakers, including senior members, have visited the Speaker to protest, pushing back the passage of legislation aimed at improving people’s livelihoods during the Regular National Assembly session.
The plenary agenda released by the National Assembly that day included three items: a revised version of the Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Prosecution; a resolution calling for the expulsion of lawmaker Kim Tae-gyu; and a resolution to form a special committee on super-regional strategic industrial special zones for region-led growth. The People Power Party plans to counter all of these agenda items with filibusters.
Earlier that morning, Speaker Cho met with the floor leadership of both parties, including DPK floor leader Han Byung-do and People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig, to discuss the plenary agenda. Han said the Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Prosecution and the resolution to form a special committee on super-regional strategic industrial special zones must be passed, but Jeong opposed tabling contentious items without an agreement between the parties. Senior People Power Party lawmakers also visited Speaker Cho separately to protest, but the contentious items the DPK had called for passing were ultimately included in the plenary agenda.
The DPK says there is no reason to delay passage any longer, given that it adopted as its party line at a caucus on the 3rd a revised version of the Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Prosecution with the provision related to the withdrawal of charges removed. If the People Power Party launches a filibuster, the DPK is expected to respond by filing a motion to end debate on each agenda item and then ending the debate by a vote after 24 hours have passed.
In the wake of the clash between the parties, legislation aimed at improving people’s livelihoods has been pushed to the back burner. Housing-supply legislation, including the Act on the Improvement of Urban Areas and Residential Environments, the Urban Renewal Promotion Act, and bills related to Yongsan Park, was left off that day’s plenary agenda. The DPK had agreed at a party-government consultation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 28th of last month to push for the legislation’s swift passage. The National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee also canceled its scheduled full committee meeting that day because People Power Party lawmakers did not attend.

[email protected] Jiwon Song Reporter