By Jun Ji-hye
Rep. Lee Jong-kul, floor leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK), delivered an emotion-laden speech as the 39th and the last speaker of a filibuster session that ended Wednesday after a nine-day run.
Lee wept while apologizing for the party's decision to end the filibuster, which began on Feb. 23 with the set objective of blocking a government-backed anti-terrorism bill.
Lee's speech continued 12 hours and 31 minutes, setting a new record for the longest filibuster speech in Korea _ the previous record was held by Rep. Jung Cheong-rae, who delivered a speech for 11 hours and 39 minutes as the 17th speaker.
Lee vowed to continue the speech until the ruling Saenuri Party accepts the opposition party's demand to change details of the anti-terrorism bill.
The party's decision was made on Tuesday night based on Lee's proposal. Lee claimed that the indefinite duration of the parliamentary tactic, if prolonged, could delay the passage of other bills, including one on redrawing electoral districts for the April 13 general election.
"We've committed a grave sin. We are really sorry to the people. Please forgive us," he said, apologizing for the decision.
Throughout the filibuster session, the opposition lawmakers called for the rewriting of the anti-terrorism bill, but the ruling party rejected their demand, saying discussions are over. The National Assembly, controlled by the ruling party with a majority of seats, is expected to pass the bill soon.
Rep. Lee's apology was apparently intended for the public and members of the party who supported the filibuster, out of concerns that the bill, if passed, will give the National Intelligence Service (NIS) greater power, which could be abused and used to monitor civilians and opposition lawmakers.
After reciting the names of 38 lawmakers, who had stood at the podium, one by one, Lee gave special thanks to Rep. Eun Soo-mi who delivered a filibuster speech for 10 hours and 18 minutes as the third speaker on Feb. 24. "I cannot say Eun's name without tears," he said.
Lee also expressed his gratitude to Rep. Kang Gi-jung who stood at the podium as the ninth speaker on Feb. 26 even after he knew that he was excluded from being nominated as a candidate in the general election.
"Lawmakers who participated in the filibuster left a lot of memorable quotes that made the public laugh and cry," he said. "Such quotes recalled facts that those in authority tried to delete and distort.
"I believed that the lawmakers' passion helped the public know about what we are doing at the National Assembly," Lee said.
He said that MPK lawmakers showed dedication during the filibuster.
Lee also criticized Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa who prompted the filibuster session by exercising his authority to put the anti-terrorism bill to a vote. Chung said at the time that an early passage of the bill is necessary because national security is in an "emergency state" in the face of North Korean provocations.
The opposition side claimed that current situations do not fulfill the necessary conditions of the emergency state.
"As far as I know, Chung has so far followed the rules neutrally and rationally. It is doubtful how and why he damaged such trust," Lee said, while Chung was sitting behind him.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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| Rep. Lee Jong-kul, floor leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, weeps while giving the last filibuster speech at the National Assembly, Wednesday. / Yonhap |
Lee wept while apologizing for the party's decision to end the filibuster, which began on Feb. 23 with the set objective of blocking a government-backed anti-terrorism bill.
Lee's speech continued 12 hours and 31 minutes, setting a new record for the longest filibuster speech in Korea _ the previous record was held by Rep. Jung Cheong-rae, who delivered a speech for 11 hours and 39 minutes as the 17th speaker.
Lee vowed to continue the speech until the ruling Saenuri Party accepts the opposition party's demand to change details of the anti-terrorism bill.
The party's decision was made on Tuesday night based on Lee's proposal. Lee claimed that the indefinite duration of the parliamentary tactic, if prolonged, could delay the passage of other bills, including one on redrawing electoral districts for the April 13 general election.
"We've committed a grave sin. We are really sorry to the people. Please forgive us," he said, apologizing for the decision.
Throughout the filibuster session, the opposition lawmakers called for the rewriting of the anti-terrorism bill, but the ruling party rejected their demand, saying discussions are over. The National Assembly, controlled by the ruling party with a majority of seats, is expected to pass the bill soon.
Rep. Lee's apology was apparently intended for the public and members of the party who supported the filibuster, out of concerns that the bill, if passed, will give the National Intelligence Service (NIS) greater power, which could be abused and used to monitor civilians and opposition lawmakers.
After reciting the names of 38 lawmakers, who had stood at the podium, one by one, Lee gave special thanks to Rep. Eun Soo-mi who delivered a filibuster speech for 10 hours and 18 minutes as the third speaker on Feb. 24. "I cannot say Eun's name without tears," he said.
Lee also expressed his gratitude to Rep. Kang Gi-jung who stood at the podium as the ninth speaker on Feb. 26 even after he knew that he was excluded from being nominated as a candidate in the general election.
"Lawmakers who participated in the filibuster left a lot of memorable quotes that made the public laugh and cry," he said. "Such quotes recalled facts that those in authority tried to delete and distort.
"I believed that the lawmakers' passion helped the public know about what we are doing at the National Assembly," Lee said.
He said that MPK lawmakers showed dedication during the filibuster.
Lee also criticized Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa who prompted the filibuster session by exercising his authority to put the anti-terrorism bill to a vote. Chung said at the time that an early passage of the bill is necessary because national security is in an "emergency state" in the face of North Korean provocations.
The opposition side claimed that current situations do not fulfill the necessary conditions of the emergency state.
"As far as I know, Chung has so far followed the rules neutrally and rationally. It is doubtful how and why he damaged such trust," Lee said, while Chung was sitting behind him.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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