Latest news with #NationalAssemblyAct
Korea Herald
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Assembly ends filibuster, passes DP-led broadcasting bill
The National Assembly on Tuesday passed one of the three contentious broadcasting bills proposed by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, after voting to end a 24-hour filibuster by the opposition People Power Party. The amendment to the Broadcasting Act, which seeks to expand the board of directors at KBS, passed the Assembly with 178 votes in favor and 2 against. A total of 180 members participated in the vote, which People Power Party lawmakers boycotted. This followed the National Assembly's vote to end the filibuster Tuesday morning, with 187 votes in favor. Ending a filibuster requires votes from at least three-fifths — or 179 — of the current 198 parliament members, according to the National Assembly Act. The conservative party lawmakers walked out of the parliamentary chamber in protest of this vote as well. The Democratic Party currently holds a parliamentary majority with 167 out of 298 seats. The revision to the Broadcasting Act is one of three proposed bills aimed at limiting the government's and politicians' power to name directors to the boards of public broadcasters, KBS, MBC and EBS. The other two bills in the set are revisions to the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act. These propose similar changes to the governance structures at MBC and EBS, while the Broadcasting Act affects KBS. The conservative People Power Party has repeatedly denounced the bills as a means to appoint more liberal-minded officials as board members of the broadcasters. People Power Party floor leader and interim leader Rep. Song Eon-seog, in an intra-party meeting held ahead of the plenary session, threatened to file an adjudication with the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of the law. Several other contentious bills were tabled by the Democratic Party during Monday's plenary session, including the revision to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. These are expected to be put to a vote at the next earliest plenary session scheduled for Aug. 21. The revision focuses on restricting companies from claiming damages against legitimate disputes involving labor unions. The bill's nickname, the 'Yellow Envelope' bill, stems from the donations that the public sent to support SsangYong Motor workers in 2014, after they were laid off and faced court orders to compensate their employer for the damages made to company properties during a strike. South Korean business lobby groups, the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, and the European Chamber of Commerce have all voiced concerns that the passage of the bill could prompt foreign companies to withdraw from the Korean market. The three broadcasting bills and 'Yellow Envelope' bill were previously vetoed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon worked with the Assembly with the Democratic Party as the parliamentary majority throughout his term, before he was impeached after his failed attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3, 2024.
Korea Herald
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Natl. Assembly expected to vote on contentious broadcasting bill despite filibuster by main opposition
The National Assembly is expected to vote on a controversial broadcasting bill aimed at reducing the government's influence over public broadcasters Tuesday, when the main opposition's filibuster in the parliamentary chamber to block the bill ends. The main opposition People Power Party launched the filibuster at around 4:01 p.m. the previous day, shortly after the ruling Democratic Party tabled a contentious amendment to the Broadcasting Act during a plenary session. The proposed bill is part of three contentious broadcasting bills aimed at reforming the governance structure of the nation's public broadcast media by weakening the government and the National Assembly's power to name board directors. Under the revised Broadcasting Act, the board of directors at KBS will be expanded from 11 to 15 members. The rival parties had clashed over the legislation, with the PPP arguing that the bills will only increase the presence of progressive figures on the boards of public broadcasters. The DP, which currently holds a parliamentary majority with 167 out of 298 seats, plans to put the bill to a vote with minor opposition parties at around 4:01 p.m. Tuesday, before the Assembly's July extraordinary session ends at midnight. Rep. Shin Dong-wook of the PPP spoke for about eight hours in opposition to the bill. The two remaining broadcasting bills, along with the so-called yellow envelope bill aimed at broadening labor protections and a revision to the Commercial Act, are expected to be handled in the August session. A filibuster involves lawmakers holding the floor for extended periods as a way to prevent a parliamentary vote or delay the passage of a bill. Under the National Assembly Act, a filibuster can be stopped after 24 hours if at least three-fifths of all parliament members, or 180 lawmakers, consent to it. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Over 370,000 sign petition to expel Lee Jun-seok over misogynistic remark
Over 370,000 South Koreans had signed an online petition calling for Rep. Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party to be expelled from the National Assembly as of Sunday afternoon. The petition came after Lee cited a controversial misogynistic remark during a televised presidential debate on May 27, ahead of the June 3 presidential election. The number of people who had signed the petition stood at 375,346 as of around 5 p.m. Sunday, gaining supporters at a rapid pace just four days after it was posted on the National Assembly's petition page on June 4. The petition calls on the Assembly to review Lee's qualifications as a lawmaker and take disciplinary action against him, arguing that he 'betrayed the people's trust and damaged the dignity of a member of the National Assembly.' The petition is expected to be reviewed by the Assembly, as it garnered more than 50,000 signatures. If more than 50,000 people support a petition within 30 days of it being made public, it is considered valid and is deliberated by the relevant standing committee of the National Assembly. However, under the Constitution, expelling a member from the National Assembly requires the consent of at least two-thirds of all sitting members. The unnamed petitioner claimed that Lee, who was the New Reform Party's presidential candidate in the June 3 election, committed verbal sexual violence when he cited inappropriate language that depicted violence against women. 'Legislators are the representatives of all citizens. This means that a National Assembly member must engage in legislative activities aimed at eliminating discrimination, hatred against minorities and upholding the dignified lives of the people," the petitioner said, requesting that the National Assembly expel Lee from office for violating Article 155 of the National Assembly Act. The article stipulates that the assembly may take disciplinary action against lawmakers who violate general ethics principles for National Assembly members or rules governing their ethical practice. "But his inappropriate, violent language and his irresponsible attitude in justifying his actions severely undermined people's trust and damaged the dignity expected of a National Assembly member,' the petitioner added.
Korea Herald
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Over 350,000 sign petition to expel Lee Jun-seok over misogynistic remark
Over 350,000 South Koreans as of Sunday morning had signed an online petition calling for the expulsion of Rep. Lee Jun-seok of the minor conservative New Reform Party from the National Assembly. The petition came after Lee made a controversial misogynistic remark during a televised presidential debate on May 27, ahead of the June 3 presidential election. The petition, posted on the National Assembly's petition page on May 28, called on the parliament to review Lee's qualifications as a lawmaker and take disciplinary action against Lee, as 'he betrayed people's trust and damaged the dignity of a member of the National Assembly.' The petition is expected to be reviewed by the Assembly, as it garnered more than 50,000 signatures. If more than 50,000 people support a petition within 30 days of it being made public, it is considered valid and is deliberated by the relevant standing committee of the National Assembly. However, under the Constitution, expelling a member from the National Assembly requires the consent of at least two-thirds of all sitting members. The unnamed petitioner claimed that Lee, who was a presidential candidate of the New Reform Party in the June 3 election, committed verbal sexual violence by using inappropriate language that depicted violence against women. 'Legislators are the representatives of all citizens. This means that a National Assembly member must engage in legislative activities aimed at eliminating discrimination, hatred against minorities and upholding the dignified lives of the people," the petitioner said, requesting the National Assembly to expel Lee from office for violating Article 155 of the National Assembly Act. The article stipulates that the assembly may take disciplinary action against lawmakers who violate general ethics principles for the National Assembly member or rules governing the ethical practice of members of the National Assembly. "But his inappropriate, violent language and his irresponsible attitude in justifying his actions severely undermined people's trust and damaged the dignity expected of a National Assembly member,' the petitioner added.
The Star
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
New South Korea President unveils first batch of key nominations including PM, top aides
SEOUL: President Lee Jae-myung (pic) unveiled key nominations on his first day of presidency on June 4, including the prime minister nominee and his presidential aides, in his first briefing to reporters after entering the presidential office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. At a briefing room of the presidential office, Lee announced that he had picked four-term Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Rep Kim Min-seok as the nominee for the prime minister of South Korea. Lee said Kim, 61, was the right fit for the position, which Lee described as 'a mediator between the Cabinet and people'. Lee touted Kim's vast experience in politics, capability to execute policies to improve people's quality of life and expertise in handling international affairs. Kim has served as the senior member of the Democratic Party's supreme council since Lee chaired the party. Recently, Mr Kim was one of the co-chairs of Lee's presidential campaign team. Under the National Assembly Act, Kim may serve as both the prime minister and a lawmaker, so he may retain his parliamentary seat. In addition, Lee Jong-seok was nominated as the chief of the National Intelligence Service, the spy agency of South Korea. The 67-year-old would be the right person to safeguard South Korea's national interest in the face of international trade fluctuations, President Lee said. The NIS chief nominee formerly served as the minister of unification and led the standing committee of South Korea's National Security Council during the late former liberal president Roh Moo-hyun's term. President Lee described him as capable of seeking a breakthrough from the strained relationship between the two Koreas. Before the liberal president's final approval, Kim Min-seok and Lee Jong-seok's nominations would require a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, where the major liberal party holds the majority of seats. Three-term Democratic Party lawmaker Rep Kang Hoon-sik, 51, was tapped as the presidential chief of staff. President Lee's office also stated that Kang became the first chief of staff to have been born in 1970 or later, which would allow the Lee administration to add speed to its handling of state affairs. Kang has represented the Asan-B constituency in South Chungcheong Province since 2016. Rep Wi Sung-lac of the Democratic Party was picked as the national security adviser for the liberal president. Wi was formerly the South Korean ambassador to Russia. President Lee's office said Wi played a crucial role in crafting the president's campaign pledges on foreign affairs and national security. Both Kang and Wi were to lose their positions as members of the National Assembly. Lee also named Rep Kang Yu-jung of the Democratic Party as the presidential spokesperson, and tapped Hwang In-kwon, a former four-star army general, as the new leader of the Presidential Security Service. President Lee told reporters that all the figures he nominated are not only loyal to the people, but also competent, adding that these two personality traits would continue to be the barometer for his future nominations. The president also said during the briefing that he would not rush to nominate ministers related to South Korea's economy and industry, or carry out an overhaul of the organisation of the presidential office. - The Korea Herald/ANN
