Opposition leader's 24-hour filibuster breaks record

Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday, in protest of the ruling party's bill to establish a special tribunal for insurrection cases linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid. Yonhap

The leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), who sought to block a ruling party-led bill to establish a special insurrection tribunal, broke the record for the longest filibuster by a single lawmaker with his 24-hour speech in the National Assembly chamber.

PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk launched the filibuster at 11:40 a.m. Monday to try to block the bill, proposed by the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), that would create a special tribunal to handle insurrection cases tied to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid in December 2024.

The marathon filibuster was halted at around 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, when the DPK, which holds a parliamentary majority, voted to end the filibuster 24 hours after it began.

Under the National Assembly Act, a filibuster can be stopped after 24 hours if at least three-fifths of all lawmakers, or 180 members, consent to it.

It marked the first time a main opposition party leader has personally launched a filibuster in Korea.

The previous record was held by PPP lawmaker Park Soo-min, who spoke for 17 hours and 12 minutes on Sept. 26.

During the address, Jang accused the ruling party of seeking to create court benches made up of judges it favors and attempting to take control over the judiciary, calling the bill unconstitutional. He also urged President Lee Jae Myung to veto the bill if it passes the Assembly.

The DPK has pushed for the tribunal as part of its judicial reform initiatives, citing perceived delays and unfairness in the trials of those implicated in the martial law case.

Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho, a DPK member, remained at his Cabinet seat throughout the night, listening to Jang's remarks.

In a Facebook post around 5 a.m., Jung said he was following the filibuster and described it as "a reflection of our political reality, where dialogue and compromise have disappeared."

"Before blaming anyone else," Jung wrote, "I harbor a faint hope that we can look back on ourselves and reflect on what kind of politics truly serves the people, and what parliamentary democracy really means."