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National Assembly Schedules Friday Vote as Filibuster Deadline Nears

Updated (9 articles)
  • Lawmakers vote on a motion to arrest Kang Sun-woo, a former ruling party lawmaker and currently independent, over alleged bribery during a plenary session at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Feb. 24, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Lawmakers vote on a motion to arrest Kang Sun-woo, a former ruling party lawmaker and currently independent, over alleged bribery during a plenary session at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Feb. 24, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Lawmakers vote on a motion to arrest Kang Sun-woo, a former ruling party lawmaker and currently independent, over alleged bribery during a plenary session at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Feb. 24, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • An opposition lawmaker filibusters at a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul, in this file photo from July 27, 2025, to prevent the passage of a bill calling for allowing constitutional appeals of court rulings. (Yonhap)
    An opposition lawmaker filibusters at a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul, in this file photo from July 27, 2025, to prevent the passage of a bill calling for allowing constitutional appeals of court rulings. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    An opposition lawmaker filibusters at a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul, in this file photo from July 27, 2025, to prevent the passage of a bill calling for allowing constitutional appeals of court rulings. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Lawmakers discuss a controversial judicial reform bill on "legal distortion" during a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 26, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Lawmakers discuss a controversial judicial reform bill on "legal distortion" during a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 26, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Lawmakers discuss a controversial judicial reform bill on "legal distortion" during a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 26, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • An opposition lawmaker filibusters at a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul, in this file photo from July 27, 2025, to prevent the passage of a bill calling for allowing constitutional appeals of court rulings. (Yonhap)
    An opposition lawmaker filibusters at a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul, in this file photo from July 27, 2025, to prevent the passage of a bill calling for allowing constitutional appeals of court rulings. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    An opposition lawmaker filibusters at a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul, in this file photo from July 27, 2025, to prevent the passage of a bill calling for allowing constitutional appeals of court rulings. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Rep. Kim Hee-jung (at the podium) of the main opposition People Power Party makes a filibuster speech at a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 27, 2026, to prevent a vote on a ruling Democratic Party-led bill calling for allowing constitutional appeals of court rulings, while Speaker Woo Won-shik closes his eyes in the speaker's seat. (Yonhap)
    Rep. Kim Hee-jung (at the podium) of the main opposition People Power Party makes a filibuster speech at a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 27, 2026, to prevent a vote on a ruling Democratic Party-led bill calling for allowing constitutional appeals of court rulings, while Speaker Woo Won-shik closes his eyes in the speaker's seat. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Rep. Kim Hee-jung (at the podium) of the main opposition People Power Party makes a filibuster speech at a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 27, 2026, to prevent a vote on a ruling Democratic Party-led bill calling for allowing constitutional appeals of court rulings, while Speaker Woo Won-shik closes his eyes in the speaker's seat. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Lawmakers discuss a controversial judicial reform bill on "legal distortion" during a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 26, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Lawmakers discuss a controversial judicial reform bill on "legal distortion" during a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 26, 2026. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Lawmakers discuss a controversial judicial reform bill on "legal distortion" during a plenary session of the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 26, 2026. (Yonhap) Source Full size

Filibuster Deadline Triggers Scheduled Vote on Judicial Reform The Democratic Party (DP) will move a constitutional‑court amendment to a plenary vote on Friday, Feb 27, 2026, just as the People Power Party’s (PPP) filibuster is set to expire around 7:30 p.m. The amendment would allow the Constitutional Court to review finalized Supreme Court rulings, reshaping judicial oversight. Under the National Assembly Act, a filibuster ends automatically after 24 hours unless at least 180 lawmakers (three‑fifths) vote to continue it [1].

Legal Distortion Bill Passed After Filibuster Ends On Feb 26, 2026, the DP‑led Assembly approved a controversial “legal distortion” bill immediately after the filibuster lapsed. The law creates a new crime punishable by up to ten years in prison for judges or prosecutors who intentionally misapply legal principles or manipulate facts in criminal trials. A revised draft narrowed the scope to criminal‑trial officials and added a broader espionage ban covering any foreign entity, positioning the measure within a larger reform package that also proposes constitutional appeals and expanding Supreme Court justices [2].

DP Advances Commercial Act Amendment Amid Ongoing Filibuster Earlier, on Feb 24, 2026, the DP introduced an amendment to the Commercial Act requiring listed companies to cancel treasury shares, a policy aimed at boosting shareholder returns. The PPP responded with a filibuster, warning that mandatory share cancellations could invite hostile takeovers, while the DP prepared a motion to end the filibuster using its parliamentary majority. The same session saw a motion to arrest former DP lawmaker Kang Sun‑woo over alleged bribery, highlighting the broader political tension surrounding the reforms [3].

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Timeline

1964 – The National Assembly speaker last halts a filibuster, marking a rare interruption of the 61‑year filibuster tradition [8].

2012 – Parliamentary reform expands leeway for filibuster speeches, allowing lawmakers to raise broader topics during extended debates [8].

Dec 2024 – Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attempts a martial‑law bid, prompting the ruling Democratic Party to draft a special insurrection‑tribunal bill to address related cases [6][7].

2025 – Lee Jae Myung wins the presidential election, becoming the first president whose criminal trials are suspended after election and setting the backdrop for upcoming judicial reforms [1].

Dec 9, 2025 – Speaker Woo Won‑shik cuts Rep Na Kyung‑won’s microphone 13 minutes into her filibuster on a Fair Transactions in Franchise Business Act revision, sparking a clash between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party [9].

Dec 10, 2025 – The PPP denounces Speaker Woo for the mic cutoff as a violation of parliamentary rules; the incident becomes the first speaker‑initiated interruption since 1964 and highlights the 2012 reform’s impact on filibuster tactics [8].

Dec 23, 2025 – Opposition leader Jang Dong‑hyuk launches a solo 24‑hour filibuster against the insurrection‑tribunal bill, breaking the previous record of 17 hours 12 minutes, accuses the ruling party of unconstitutional bias, and draws overnight monitoring from Justice Minister Jung Sung‑ho [6][7].

Dec 24, 2025 (morning) – The Democratic Party prepares to push the revised Information and Communications Network Act to a plenary vote as the PPP’s second 24‑hour filibuster nears its deadline, while the insurrection‑tribunal bill already passes with the DP majority [5].

Dec 24, 2025 (afternoon) – The National Assembly passes the anti‑fake‑news bill after the PPP’s filibuster expires, defining false information, imposing punitive damages up to five times losses, and setting defamation penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment [4].

Feb 24, 2026 – The Democratic Party introduces a Commercial Act amendment requiring listed companies to cancel treasury shares to boost shareholder returns; the PPP begins a filibuster, warning the measure could invite hostile takeovers [3].

Feb 24, 2026 (planned) – The Democratic Party prepares a motion to end the PPP’s filibuster and pass the share‑cancellation amendment once it secures the required three‑fifths (180) majority [3].

Feb 26, 2026 – The Assembly approves the “legal distortion” bill after the PPP’s 24‑hour filibuster ends, criminalizing intentional distortion of legal principles by judges or prosecutors with up to ten years’ imprisonment; the opposition calls it “malicious legislation” protecting President Lee, while the DP narrows the scope and adds a broad espionage ban [2].

Feb 26, 2026 (planned) – The Democratic Party announces it will introduce two further judicial reforms—allowing constitutional appeals of court rulings and expanding Supreme Court justices from 14 to 26—following the passage of the legal‑distortion bill [2].

Feb 27, 2026 – The National Assembly votes on a constitutional‑court amendment as the PPP’s filibuster hits its 24‑hour limit, permitting the Constitutional Court to review finalized Supreme Court rulings; the DP also pushes a final bill to increase Supreme Court justices to 26, amid opposition claims the reforms shield President Lee from five suspended criminal trials [1].

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