“Planning to proceed with a filibuster today
Concerns over ‘hasty legislation’ are significant
Not just rhetoric, but real parliamentary dictatorship”,
Kwok Kyu-taek, a member of the People Power Party, is being interviewed by Dailyan at the National Assembly building. ⓒDailyan Hong Geum-pyo, ‘[Dailyan = Oh Soo-jin] Kwok Kyu-taek, the floor spokesperson of the People Power Party, stated, “We are planning to proceed with a filibuster today,” and added, “The Democratic Party seems to be setting a strategy to frame the People Power Party as ignoring ‘livelihood legislation’ and launching a filibuster, so we are preparing with that in mind.”‘,
,
, ‘On the KBS radio show ‘Direct Current Affairs’ on the 25th, Kwok commented, “The most critical bill being discussed in today’s National Assembly plenary session is the government reorganization plan,” explaining that “this government reorganization is the largest since the founding of the Republic of Korea.”‘,
,
, ‘Kwok highlighted, “For the first time in 78 years, the prosecution office is being dismantled, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance is being split into the Ministry of Planning and Budget and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Financial Services Commission is being dissolved,” noting that “major new entities like the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment and the Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Commission are being established without in-depth discussions or debates, making it too rushed and unilateral. As the opposition, we believe it’s necessary to voice these concerns.”‘,
,
, ‘He added, “Whether or not non-controversial bills will be subject to the filibuster is currently up to the leadership, and we’ll respond based on what bills are submitted during the plenary session.”‘,
,
, ‘He further observed, “It seems the Democratic Party will prioritize bills related to the government organization act as contentious issues.”‘,
,
, ‘Kwok stressed, “Regardless of pros and cons, the current government reorganization plan includes critical changes to government functions,” pointing out, “However, if the prosecution office is to be dismantled for the first time in 78 years, they intend to proceed with that without any legislation on the subsequent establishment of entities like the Public Prosecution Service or the Serious Crimes Investigation Service, including no budget or personnel plans—just prioritizing the dismantlement of the prosecution office first.”‘,
,
, ‘He lamented, “Then what is the preparation for such a vacuum, and how will effective responses to crimes be ensured? Such a situation raises significant concerns about hasty legislation.”‘,
,
, ‘He continued, “Everything is being pushed through by the Democratic Party, which holds the majority of seats, resulting in critical bills being passed in the National Assembly. Even in situations like the previous day’s legal and judicial committees in the National Assembly, there are clear public dissenting voices against issues like the prosecution office dismantlement, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance split, and the Financial Services Commission dissolution. It’s the duty of opposition lawmakers to convey these dissenting voices.”‘,
,
, ‘He also criticized, “It’s very concerning that such opportunities for discussion weren’t even properly granted, and decisions were just forced through by unilateral voting,” concluding, “This isn’t just rhetorical parliamentary dictatorship, but actual parliamentary dictatorship occurring now. It’s a very worrying situation.”