The People Power Party on the 25th began a filibuster (a lawful obstruction of proceedings through unlimited debate) at the National Assembly. The so-called "law distortion offense," pushed through by the Democratic Party of Korea, became the subject of the filibuster. The intent was that a law should not be made to improperly pressure prosecutors and judges in charge of investigations and trials.
However, the Democratic Party passed the bill at a plenary session immediately after the filibuster ran for 24 hours. A National Assembly official said, "The plenary chamber was almost empty while the filibuster was underway," adding, "The filibuster's role of allowing a minority party to directly inform the public of a bill's problems is not being properly fulfilled."
◇ Filibuster ends in 24 hours after pro-ruling camp's "forced termination"… Ruling camp's bills pass in a row
Similar scenes have unfolded repeatedly at the National Assembly recently. The "third Commercial Act amendment," which requires corporations to cancel their treasury shares, also faced a People Power Party filibuster but was passed at the plenary session on the 25th under the leadership of the Democratic Party. Since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office, the yellow envelope law, amendments to the National Assembly Act, the special law on insurrection, and the law to eradicate false or manipulated information, among others, were put on the National Assembly's agenda and were enacted under the Democratic Party's lead despite the People Power Party's filibusters. A People Power Party official said, "The minority party tried to counter the Democratic Party-centered pro-ruling camp's legislative steamrolling with a filibuster, but it has effectively become useless."
Some point out that the current seat distribution in the National Assembly is the starting point of the "filibuster futility" argument. A filibuster is also called unlimited debate, but in practice it can be forcibly terminated. If one-third of all members submit a motion to end debate, and after 24 hours three-fifths or more of all members approve it in a secret vote, the filibuster must end. Adding up the Democratic Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party, The Progressive Party, and independents, which are grouped as the pro-ruling camp, exceeds the 178 members needed for forced termination. In political circles, there is talk that "the fundamental purpose of the filibuster—to substantively guarantee minority parties' right to participate in legislation—is being completely ignored."
◇ "Filibusters surge due to structural polarization in politics" "Overused and losing attention"
Filibusters are being used most frequently in the current 22nd National Assembly among past assemblies. The first filibuster in Korea's constitutional history was by former President Kim Dae-jung, then a lawmaker, in 1964. The filibuster was effectively abolished in 1973, then revived through a 2012 amendment to the National Assembly Act. But in the 19th, 20th, and 21st National Assemblies, the number of filibusters was only one, two, and five, respectively.
The situation changed in the 22nd National Assembly. In 2024, filibusters continued over the special counsel bill on a Marine who died in the line of duty, among other issues, and in 2025 they were held over the yellow envelope law, among others. In January 2026, a filibuster was launched again over the second omnibus special counsel bill. As of the end of January 2026, there have been 23 filibusters in the 22nd National Assembly. Including eight currently underway, the total rises to 31. The 22nd National Assembly is not yet halfway through its term.
Filibuster hours have also increased sharply. Through the end of January this year, the 22nd National Assembly has spent 538 hours and 28 minutes on filibusters. If each of the eight now underway continues for 24 hours, another 192 hours will be added, pushing the cumulative time beyond 730 hours. In the 20th National Assembly, filibusters ran for 76 hours and 44 minutes, and in the 21st, for 101 hours and 59 minutes.
There are also projections that filibusters are likely to increase further. Lee Jae-mook, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said, "The recent increase in filibusters is not a temporary phenomenon but the result of structural polarization," adding, "As the political situation in the National Assembly remains gridlocked, it is likely to be marked more by the majority party's one-sided legislative steamrolling and the opposition's protest and performative filibusters than by consultation and compromise."
There is also criticism that filibusters as they are now are problematic. Political commentator Kim Jun-il also said, "The original purpose of a filibuster is less to block a bill outright than to highlight issues and draw public attention, but with overuse it is actually losing attention."