PPP Launches Tent Sit-in to Block 'Eight Harmful Bills'

The People Power Party (PPP) has launched a tent sit-in protest at the National Assembly to block what it calls "eight harmful bills."

PPP Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk, Floor Leader Song Eon-seok, Secretary General Jeong Hee-yong and other party leaders began the tent protest Wednesday morning in front of the main National Assembly building. Deputy Floor Leader Yoo Sang-bum, Chief Spokesperson Choi Eun-seok, Supreme Youth Council Member Woo Jae-jun and Rep. Kim Seung-su also participated. They held pickets with slogans such as "Immediately withdraw the five judiciary-destroying bills" and "Immediately withdraw the three bills silencing the people."

The PPP has designated eight bills as "harmful legislation" that the Democratic Party of Korea plans to push through during the December extraordinary session. The bills include establishing a special insurrection court, introducing judicial distortion charges, expanding the Supreme Court bench, implementing a four-tier trial system, and broadening the scope of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. Three additional bills target political party banner regulations, punitive damages for YouTubers, and restrictions on filibustering. The PPP has demanded the ruling party abandon these bills.

"All 107 PPP lawmakers will launch an all-out fight to block the eight harmful bills starting today," Floor Leader Song said. "The five judiciary-destroying bills would seize control of the Supreme Court, undermine judicial independence, and intimidate judges. The three bills silencing the people would suppress freedom of activity by preventing parties from freely hanging banners and crack down on YouTube media freedom. If these are passed, we will become a totalitarian state."

Song added, "All 107 PPP lawmakers will wage an all-out fight to block the eight harmful bills. We will fight together with the people in the National Assembly and on the streets."

Chairman Jang said, "If the eight harmful bills pass, Korean democracy will collapse and ultimately the entire nation will collapse. The judiciary is the last dam protecting democracy, and the people are the last dam protecting Korea. The eight harmful bills the Democratic Party is pushing aim to neutralize all of this."

He emphasized, "Not only the 107 PPP lawmakers, but also PPP members and citizens will devote all our strength to blocking these bills to the end."

Since becoming the opposition party following the change in government, this marks the PPP's first tent protest. Lawmakers are divided into four groups per day, with four to five members per group taking turns protesting at two-hour intervals. No end date has been set.