People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok launched a filibuster (a lawful obstruction of proceedings through unlimited debate) to oppose the Democratic Party of Korea's push to establish a special court division dedicated to insurrection cases. It is the first time in constitutional history that the leader of the largest opposition party has personally taken the floor for a filibuster.
The People Power Party on the 22nd began a filibuster to oppose the Special Act on the Establishment of a Special Court Division for the Dec. 3 Martial Law and the Protection of Whistleblowers. The bill would create a court division dedicated to cases including former President Yoon Suk-yeol's insurrection case. The People Power Party has strongly opposed it as "the worst evil law in history."
In particular, Jang Dong-hyeok drew attention by taking the floor as the first debater in the filibuster that day. It was reported to be the first time the leader of the largest opposition party has personally taken part in a filibuster.
Jang took the rostrum holding five books: "Constitutional Law (Sung Nak-in)," "On Liberty (John Stuart Mill)," "Democracy in America (Alexis de Tocqueville)," "The Constitution of Liberty (Friedrich Hayek)," and "How Democracies Die (Steven Levitsky, Daniel Ziblatt)." They are books about the values of the constitution and democracy.
Jang also emphasized the values of democracy and the constitution during the filibuster. "The National Assembly is trying to unilaterally pass an anti-constitutional bill by denying the constitution it made," Jang said. "The National Assembly is taking the lead in regressing our democracy. I am truly devastated."
Jang said, "The core of the rule of law is the independence of the judiciary, and breaking the independence of the judiciary is an attempt to topple democracy," adding, "If this bill passes, history will judge that on Dec. 23, 2025, democracy and the rule of law in the Republic of Korea were brought down by the lawmakers who supported establishing the special martial law court division."
He continued, "It is a clear violation of the constitution for the National Assembly to be involved in judicial appointments and an infringement on judicial independence," and said, "We must stop this dangerous gamble that puts the fate of democracy in the Republic of Korea on the line." He also called the names of lawmakers Choo Mi-ae, Park Beom-kye, Kim Seung-won, Choi Ki-sang, and Park Hee-seung, who served as judges before entering the National Assembly, and asked, "Is a special court division really okay?"
Jang said, "The reason many democracies do not adopt judicial election systems is to prevent the judiciary from being swayed by the majority crowd psychology stirred by populist agitation," adding, "If the legislature falls under the control of a faction supported by a majority of voters and the judiciary kneels before that legislature, that faction will ultimately occupy the seats of judges."
Jang warned that if judicial independence collapses, the country could head down the path of dictatorship. "Judicial independence is the lifeblood of the rule of law and the lifeblood of democracy," Jang said, adding, "Not only the special martial law court division but also the various bills the Democratic Party is trying to touch are intended to destroy the rule of law."