Ruling, opposition agree to pass filibuster rule change

Jan 29, 2026, 10:13 am

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Ruling and opposition party floor leaders meet at the office of the National Assembly Steering Committee chair. Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do (right) and People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seok meet at the National Assembly on Jan. 28. /Yonhap

South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties agreed to pass a revision to the National Assembly Act at a plenary session on Jan. 29 that would allow the National Assembly speaker to transfer presiding authority during a filibuster.

The two sides also agreed to process about 90 non-controversial bills at the same session.

Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do and People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seok announced the agreement after meeting at the National Assembly on Tuesday. Song said the agenda for the plenary session would include roughly 90 non-contentious bills that have already cleared standing committees and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, adding that the parties had also agreed to pass the Assembly Act revision.

Under the amendment, when a filibuster—an unlimited debate—is underway, the Assembly speaker may designate a standing committee chair or another lawmaker to preside over the session. However, provisions related to the quorum required to maintain a filibuster, opposed by some minor opposition parties including the Rebuilding Korea Party, were excluded from the revision.

Calls for revising the law have grown amid prolonged filibusters stemming from sharp partisan confrontations, with criticism that the burden of presiding over such sessions has fallen excessively on Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and Deputy Speaker Lee Hak-young.

Meanwhile, the parties agreed to open a special February session of the National Assembly on Feb. 2. Floor speeches by party leaders are scheduled for Feb. 3 for the Democratic Party and Feb. 4 for the People Power Party.

#National Assembly #filibuster #presiding authority #parliamentary law #Democratic Party