[Reporter’s Notebook] Livelihood Bills Delayed Amid Fierce Standoff

"We support it! We're not against this bill!"

On December 9, the final day of the regular National Assembly session, the main chamber was tense. The People Power Party launched a filibuster, delaying the passage of livelihood-related bills. When criticized for neglecting these bills, a People Power Party lawmaker in the chamber insisted that they were not actually opposed to the legislation.

The bill in question was an amendment to the Franchise Business Act, aimed at guaranteeing franchisees the right to negotiate. However, the ongoing filibuster made its passage difficult. Upon hearing the People Power Party lawmaker's defense, a Democratic Party lawmaker stood up in protest, exclaiming, "Small business owners are shedding tears of blood." This lawmaker only calmed down when a colleague sitting next to him urged restraint and tugged at his sleeve.

This scene, which lasted only a few minutes in the main chamber, encapsulates the current state of the National Assembly. "In the past, lawmakers would argue in public but communicate behind the scenes. Now, they really fight," said another lawmaker, highlighting the deepening divisions since the December 3 Martial Law.

The amendment to the Franchise Business Act finally passed the main chamber on December 11, with all 241 lawmakers present voting in favor except for three abstentions. Considering that the number of pro-government lawmakers is 187 (excluding independents), it means that a significant number of People Power Party lawmakers also supported the bill. Although it was always expected to pass, the filibuster delayed its approval by two days.

Fifty-nine other livelihood-related bills are also expected to be delayed due to the ongoing standoff between the ruling and opposition parties. Notable examples include the Special Act on Prevention of Telecommunications Financial Fraud and Protection of Victims, which aims to strengthen systems to prevent and mitigate financial scams, and the National Fire Hospital Act, which would allow firefighters and citizens access to public medical care. The Special Act on Semiconductors has also cleared the standing committee through bipartisan agreement but remains stalled before the main chamber vote.

The Democratic Party has stated that if the People Power Party does not end its filibuster, it will bring contentious bills to the main chamber first. It appears the ruling party has forgotten its responsibility to persuade the opposition and normalize proceedings as soon as possible, instead resorting to provocative tactics. The situation is escalating further, with moves to amend the law to effectively neutralize the opposition's filibuster rights.

Both parties know how to untangle this knot. They have experience passing the Commercial Act amendment as the first cooperative bill under the Lee Jaemyung administration. There is also the recent example of both parties meeting the legal deadline and agreeing on next year’s budget for the first time in five years. These outcomes were possible because both sides made concessions. Politics is the art of compromise. Concession is not a retreat, but a way to find a solution. The path forward opens only when parties break free from the narrow confines of partisan interests.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.