Political wrangling heightened at LKP's filibuster attempts

Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Rep. Lee In-young speaks during a press conference, Sunday, held at the National Assembly to condemn the main opposition Liberty Korea Party's attempt to stage a filibuster to prevent the passing of contentious bills on electoral reform and launching a special investigative body against high-ranking officials' corruption. Korea Times photo by Ko Young-kwon

By Jung Da-min

The stalemate in negotiations between the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) over two fast-tracked revision bills on electoral reform and a corruption investigation unit has put the passage of 199 other bills on hold.

DPK floor leader Lee In-young said Sunday that the party will strengthen cooperation with four minor parties to solve the issue of passing the pending legislation. He strongly condemned the LKP's attempt to shut down the National Assembly by filing for a filibuster on the 199 bills scheduled for votes on at the plenary session.

"The LKP's attempt to control the National Assembly by putting all 199 bills on the filibuster list reminds me of a hostage situation in a movie with the innocent public being held hostage," Lee said during a press conference at the National Assembly. "This is an act of violence to paralyze the 20th national Assembly until its tenure ends."

The DPK convened a closed-door Supreme Council meeting later in the day to discuss emergency action including how to cooperate with the other four minor parties ― the Bareunmirae Party, Justice Party, the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP) and a new party devolved from the PDP.

Earlier on Nov 29, the LKP said it would launch a filibuster that involves lawmakers speaking for extended periods as a way to prevent a parliamentary vote and thus delay the passage of a bill, as a "strong" measure to block the Assembly voting on the bill for electoral reform and the launch of a special investigative body targeting corruption by high-ranking officials.

The two bills are set to be heard at the plenary session Dec. 3 but this can be delayed if the parties fail to reach an agreement over them. The Nov. 29 plenary session was also cancelled at the DPK's request. The regular session of the National Assembly ends Dec. 10 and if the LKP stages a filibuster it will end without the passing of any of the bills.

The LKP is doing everything it can to halt the bills, with leader Hwang Kyo-ahn recently staging a hunger strike. Hwang ended his eight-day fast Nov. 28, but two other LKP Supreme Council members Chung Mi-kyung and Shin Bo-ra went on a similar strike that day.

Liberty Korea Party (LKP) Supreme Council members Chung Mi-kyung, left and Shin Bo-ra are on their fourth day of a hunger strike, Sunady, in front of Cheong Wa Dae. They are continuing a strike initiated by LKP leader Hwang Kyo-ahn who ended his fast on its eighth day, Nov. 28. Yonhap

The DPK is reportedly planning to initiate the Dec. 3 session, and is arranging the order of votes on bills, putting the budget for 2019 in first place. When the Assembly's regular session ends Dec. 10, it is planning to convene an extraordinary session to pass the bills on electoral and prosecutorial reform.

The political wrangling has received public criticism for its effect on other bills linked to people's lives, including a revision to the Road Traffic Act to ensure children's safety in school zones, and other reform measures on regulating data protection, and kindergarten management.

The Justice Party and the PDP have also strongly condemned the LKP's move.

But the conflict is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. LKP floor leader Rep. Na Kyung-won reportedly proposed to National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang that the party would stage a filibuster for only five bills if Moon does exercise his authority to put bills to a vote during the plenary session. The DPK has opposed it.

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