Seoul: The National Assembly is poised to cast its vote on a controversial broadcasting bill designed to diminish governmental influence over public broadcasters, as the main opposition's filibuster in the parliamentary chamber is set to conclude.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) initiated the filibuster at around 4:01 p.m. the previous day, following the ruling Democratic Party (DP)'s introduction of a contentious amendment to the Broadcasting Act during a plenary session. This proposed bill is one of three significant broadcasting bills intended to reform the governance structure of the nation's public broadcasting by curtailing the power of the government and the National Assembly in appointing board directors.
Under the proposed changes to the Broadcasting Act, the board of directors at KBS will expand from 11 to 15 members. The legislation has been a point of contention between the rival parties, with the PPP contending that the bills would merely increase the representation of progressive figures on the boards of public broadcasters. In contrast, the DP, which holds a parliamentary majority with 167 out of 298 seats, intends to proceed with the vote in collaboration with minor opposition parties at approximately 4:01 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the conclusion of the Assembly's July extraordinary session at midnight.
Rep. Shin Dong-wook of the PPP delivered an eight-hour speech in opposition to the bill. The two remaining broadcasting bills, in addition to the so-called yellow envelope bill aimed at expanding labor protections and a revision to the Commercial Act, are projected to be addressed in the August session. A filibuster is a tactic used by lawmakers to prolong the floor debate as a means to delay or prevent a parliamentary vote on a bill. Under the National Assembly Act, a filibuster can be concluded after 24 hours if at least three-fifths of all parliament members, or 180 lawmakers, agree to terminate it.