The People Power Party (PPP), having confirmed the special bill for Daegu-North Gyeongsang administrative integration as its official party position, is pressuring the Democratic Party of Korea (DP) to convene the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and pass the bill promptly. The DP is countering by making the termination of the filibuster a precondition, with only four days remaining in the current session—signaling friction ahead between the ruling and opposition parties.
At a press conference held at the National Assembly on the 27th, the PPP announced that through a general meeting of lawmakers the previous day, it had adopted the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration bill as party policy and requested the ruling party process it within the current session.
PPP Floor Leader Song Eon-seok stated, "Based on the results of our general meeting, our party has requested the Democratic Party expedite processing of the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration bill during this session."
He added, "Administrative integration is not about electoral gains or losses but a critical decision affecting national competitiveness. If the Democratic Party truly wants balanced regional development, it should stop trying to divide the opposition and immediately process the administrative integration bill."
The DP had previously stated it would convene the Judiciary Committee on December 2nd if the PPP reached consensus. However, DP lawmaker Choo Mi-ae, chair of the Judiciary Committee, posted on social media making filibuster termination a precondition.
"You distinguished members filed for a filibuster but are sparing yourselves—National Assembly Vice Speaker Joo Ho-young refuses to preside, and PPP lawmakers have vacated the plenary chamber. Meanwhile, our party's Judiciary Committee members are on duty guarding the chamber," she wrote. "Under these circumstances, when can we possibly convene the Judiciary Committee? Floor Leader Song Eon-seok should cancel the filibuster first."
Floor Leader Song immediately fired back: "What's with this sudden filibuster excuse? You distinguished members held a general meeting during the filibuster, submitted the law distortion crime amendment to the plenary, and processed it just fine."
With four days until the session ends, confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties suggests obstacles ahead for the bill's passage. At the previous day's plenary session, PPP-nominated candidate Cheon Yeong-sik for standing member of the Korea Communications Commission was rejected in a vote led by the ruling party. The conflict peaked with profanity exchanged between lawmakers from both sides.