Han Byung-do: Democratic Party won't end filibuster this time — PPP must explain opposition to livelihood bills

Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Han Byung-do said Wednesday that if the People Power Party launches a filibuster during Thursday's plenary session, the Democratic Party will not move to end the unlimited debate. The announcement marks a departure from the party's past practice of rallying pro-government bloc seats — including those of the Rebuilding Korea Party — to force a closure vote and push through legislation.

Speaking at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Han said, "The PPP has been threatening a filibuster all along. If they go ahead with unlimited debate, this time the Democratic Party has no intention of calling a closure vote."

He added, "Explain to the public, fully and clearly, why you oppose livelihood bills that expand housing supply and prevent industrial accidents."

The Democratic Party is pushing to pass a set of livelihood bills at Thursday's plenary session, including amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act to prevent industrial accidents and to the Urban Improvement Act to accelerate housing supply.

"The Democratic Party is rallying behind livelihood bills at the plenary session — the Occupational Safety and Health Act to prevent industrial accidents and the Urban Improvement Act amendment to speed up housing supply — yet the PPP has reportedly not even decided how to respond on the floor," Han said. "If that is the case, what they should be doing right now is not preparing to take to the streets, but narrowing their differences on the bills."

In the past, when the PPP used filibusters against contested bills, the Democratic Party assembled the broader pro-government bloc to pass a closure motion and advance the legislation. Under the National Assembly Act, an unlimited debate can be forcibly ended if three-fifths of all registered members vote in favor. With the Democratic Party now saying it will not seek a closure vote, the livelihood bills could be delayed if the PPP proceeds with a filibuster.

Han also criticized the PPP's planned outdoor rally on Saturday. "We are in the middle of a regular session, and this is precisely the time when we should be passing every bill we can to help people's livelihoods recover. I simply cannot understand why they would take to the streets now," he said.

He went on to say, "The rally seemed so out of nowhere that I looked into why they were holding it, and it turns out they are making issues of the DMZ landmine explosion, the fabricated-indictment special prosecutor act, and the new criminal justice framework. The facts surrounding the landmine explosion are being established one by one through a joint investigation by our military and the UN Command — I cannot understand why that is being used as fodder for an outdoor protest."

Han went on to say, "The same goes for the fabricated-indictment special prosecutor act. They say they will not push it through at Thursday's plenary session — so why hold a rally?" He added, "They vowed with the resolve of 'die to live' to block the prosecution-withdrawal special prosecutor. I hope they channel that determination into joining us in restoring people's livelihoods instead."

The Democratic Party had initially considered passing the so-called fabricated-indictment special prosecutor act at Thursday's plenary session, but decided after a general assembly meeting on Tuesday to defer the discussion until after the national audit period.

"What the regular session calls for is not slogans in the streets or false propaganda," Han said. "The national audit is just around the corner. There is barely enough time to examine the public's hardships and find solutions." He added, "The Democratic Party will not be swayed by political squabbling. We will steadily push through livelihood legislation and answer with a policy-focused national audit."