Anti-terrorism bill stalled by filibuster

By Kim Hyo-jin

National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa invoked his authority to put the anti-terrorism bill for a vote in a bid to end the long-standing bipartisan wrangling over the bill, Tuesday.

Opposing it, the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) kicked off a filibuster.

“After months of mediation between rival parties, I concluded that it would be impossible for them to reach an agreement over the bill,” Chung said during an opening speech of the plenary session. “But it can’t be delayed any further as the Assembly has a responsibility to take preventive measure against possible terrorist attacks that would threaten people's safety.”

Chung said the national security is at an “emergency state” in the face of provocations from North Korea, which meets the legal requirement for him to use the authority to break the legislative deadlock.

But Chung’s decision was faced with backlash from the MPK. Lawmakers of the party filibustered the plenary session ― the first time since it was introduced in 2012 through the revision to the National Assembly Law.

Parties have sparred for months over the new security bill that is aimed at setting up a new anti-terrorist control tower. The bill aimed at giving the National Intelligence Service (NIS) the authority to collect information of private communications, travels and financial transaction of potential terrorists.

The MPK has expressed concerns over the possible abuse of power by the NIS, which has already tarnished its reputation by involving in a series of political scandal.

Earlier last year, the NIS was accused of using illegal surveillance software which could access private digital content on phones and computers. Its former chief Won Sei-hoon was accused of conducting a smear campaign in the previous presidential election in favor of then ruling party candidate Park Geun-hye.

The bill gained momentum following the North Korea’s nuclear test and long-range rocket launch. The call for the bill was further raised by the ruling Saenuri Party and the government after the NIS unveiled the information that the North’s spy agency is currently planning to launch terrorist attacks against South Korea on orders from its leader Kim Jong-un.