The ruling and opposition parties attempted to negotiate an end to the People Power Party's (PPP) filibuster on Wednesday but failed to narrow their differences. The PPP plans to continue its filibuster on bills scheduled for the plenary session on Thursday.
The floor leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea and the PPP reached this conclusion after meeting for approximately two hours at the National Assembly. The meeting was attended by Democratic Party Floor Leader Kim Byung-ki, PPP Floor Leader Song Eon-seok, and senior deputy floor leaders from both parties.
The two sides agreed to put three agenda items to a vote at Thursday's plenary session: amendments to the Banking Act, the Criminal Procedure Act, and the Act on the Performance of Duties by Police Officers. However, they ultimately failed to reach agreement on ending the filibuster.
"We requested a halt to the filibuster on livelihood bills and non-contentious legislation, but the opposition maintained its position that it has no choice but to continue the filibuster," said Moon Jin-seok, senior deputy floor leader for the Democratic Party.
Yoo Sang-bum, senior deputy floor leader for the PPP, said, "We have been conducting the filibuster to block the 'five evil laws destroying the judiciary' and 'three evil laws silencing the opposition.' As long as these bills remain unresolved, we have no choice but to continue the filibuster."
The ruling and opposition parties did reach agreement on three other matters: extending the special committee on pension reform, establishing a special committee on political reform, and forming a confirmation hearing committee for Audit and Inspection Commissioner nominee Kim Ho-chul. The political reform committee will consist of 18 members—nine from the Democratic Party, eight from the PPP, and one from non-negotiating groups—and will operate until the next local elections.
