Overview
- The People Power Party triggered a blanket filibuster after cross-party talks collapsed when the ruling party refused to drop eight disputed bills, including judiciary reforms and changes to filibuster rules.
- Speaker Woo Won-shik cited off-topic remarks under Article 102 to cut Rep. Na Kyung-won’s microphone, marking the first forced halt of a filibuster by a speaker in 61 years.
- Clashes broke out on the floor as a PPP member clipped a wireless mic on Na to continue speaking, prompting shouts from Democratic Party lawmakers until Woo declared a recess.
- The filibuster ran for about one hour and 50 minutes and the regular session ended without processing even routine items, though three state guarantee bills passed before the standoff escalated.
- With the filibuster ending alongside the session, the bills move to an extraordinary session starting Wednesday, and the DP aims to pass contentious measures between Dec. 21 and 24 unless new filibusters intervene.