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 crime," pushed through by the Democratic Party of Korea, became the target of the filibuster. The point was that the legislature should not create a law intended to unduly 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 directly informing the public about a bill's problems by a minority party is not being properly carried out."
◇Filibuster ends in 24 hours after a pro-ruling camp "forced shutdown"… ruling camp's bills pass in a row
Similar scenes have unfolded at the National Assembly in recent days. The "third Commercial Act amendment," which would require corporations to retire their treasury shares, also faced a People Power Party filibuster but was approved at a plenary session on the 25th under the Democratic Party's lead. Since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office, the yellow envelope law, a new labor law aimed at strengthening the bargaining rights of subcontract workers, the National Assembly Act amendment, the special law on insurrection, and the act to eradicate false or manipulated information, among others submitted to the National Assembly, were enacted under the Democratic Party's lead despite the People Power Party's filibusters. A People Power Party official said, "The minority PPP tried to counter the Democratic Party-centered pro-ruling camp's legislative steamrolling with a filibuster, but it has effectively become useless."
Some point to the current seat distribution in the National Assembly as the starting point of the "filibuster is useless" argument. A filibuster is also called unlimited debate, but in practice it can be forcibly ended. If one-third of sitting lawmakers submit a motion to end debate and, 24 hours later, three-fifths or more of sitting lawmakers vote in favor by secret ballot, the filibuster must end. Adding up the Democratic Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party, The Progressive Party, and independents, all categorized as part of the pro-ruling camp, exceeds the 178 needed to force an end. 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" "Overuse saps public attention"
Filibusters are being used most frequently in this National Assembly (the 22nd) among all past assemblies. The first filibuster in Korea's constitutional history was by former President Kim Dae-jung in 1964, when he was a lawmaker. The filibuster was effectively scrapped in 1973, then revived in 2012 through an amendment to the National Assembly Act. But in the 19th, 20th, and 21st National Assemblies, filibusters were used only once, twice, and five times, respectively.
The situation changed in the 22nd National Assembly. In 2024, filibusters continued over the special counsel bill on the Marine who died in the line of duty, and in 2025 they took place over the yellow envelope law. In January 2026, another filibuster was launched over the second omnibus special counsel bill. From the start of the 22nd National Assembly to the end of January 2026, there have been 23 filibusters. Including eight now underway, the total rises to 31. The 22nd National Assembly is still not even halfway through its term.
Filibuster hours have also risen sharply. By the end of January this year, the 22nd National Assembly had spent 538 hours and 28 minutes on filibusters. If the eight ongoing filibusters each continue for 24 hours, another 192 hours will be added, pushing the cumulative total past 730 hours. By comparison, the 20th National Assembly held filibusters for 76 hours and 44 minutes, and the 21st for 101 hours and 59 minutes.
Some forecast that filibusters are likely to increase further. Lee Jae-mook, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said, "The recent rise in filibusters is not a temporary phenomenon but the result of structural polarization," adding, "As gridlock deepens in the National Assembly, it is likely to be marked by the majority party's unilateral legislative steamrolling and the opposition's protest- and performance-oriented filibusters rather than 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 as they are overused, they are losing visibility."