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Song Eon-seok, interim leader and floor leader of the People Power Party (PPP), sits deep in thought during a meeting on July 23. / Source: Yonhap News

Tensions are escalating between South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party and opposition People Power Party (PPP) as the National Assembly prepares to vote on several contentious bills on August 4. The Democratic Party is rushing to pass legislation that was previously vetoed during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, while the PPP is planning to launch a filibuster to block what it calls a legislative "rampage."

At the heart of the dispute are the three broadcasting reform bills—amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act. The proposed reforms aim to make public broadcasters more independent from political influence, a move the Democratic Party claims will return control of the media to the public for the first time in 38 years.

The PPP, however, argues the reforms are designed to secure long-term control over public broadcasters. If the bills pass through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, chaired by the Democratic Party, they are expected to be brought to a plenary vote on August 4, prompting the PPP to stage a filibuster.

PPP emergency leader and floor leader Song Eon-seok has already issued a "standby alert" to all party lawmakers in anticipation of the Democratic Party’s push on August 4 and 5. 

The Democratic Party also plans to pass the controversial “Yellow Envelope Bill,” an amendment to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. The bill seeks to expand the definition of employer responsibility to include subcontractors and restrict companies from filing excessive compensation claims against striking workers.

Supporters argue the bill would better guarantee workers’ constitutional rights to unionize and take collective action.

Although time for deliberation is short, the National Federation of Korean Trade Unions (KCTU) has increased pressure through sit-ins at Democratic Party offices across the country, prompting speculation that the bill’s passage may be accelerated.

Meanwhile, two remaining agriculture-related bills—part of a broader four-bill package—are also likely to move forward. The Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee is scheduled to deliberate on July 29 the amendment to the Act on the Distribution and Price Stabilization of Agricultural and Fishery Products (commonly called the Agricultural Act). If passed, it will join a previously approved amendment to the Grain Management Act and be finalized in a full committee meeting expected between July 29 and 30.

Some interpret the timing of these bills as a gesture to farmers amid growing concerns over agricultural market liberalization tied to ongoing U.S. tariff negotiations. PPP lawmaker Jung Hee-yong, the opposition’s chief negotiator on the committee, stated that the government and lawmakers “must improve the increasingly harsh conditions for farmers and fishers caused by climate-related disasters.”

The Democratic Party is also accelerating efforts to strengthen corporate governance by pushing amendments to the Commercial Act. On July 28, the Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee will review provisions that would mandate cumulative voting and expand separate elections for audit committee members—measures that were previously blocked due to lack of bipartisan agreement.

Observers say the Democratic Party is fast-tracking legislation now to secure political momentum early in the new administration. With the regular parliamentary session and audit season starting in September, the party’s legislative bandwidth will shrink. Additionally, major bills on prosecutorial reform are scheduled for October, heightening the urgency to clear vetoed legislation beforehand.