Seoul: The leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has set a new record for the longest filibuster by a single lawmaker in the National Assembly chamber. The 24-hour speech was aimed at blocking a bill led by the ruling Democratic Party (DP), which seeks to establish a special tribunal for insurrection cases.
According to Yonhap News Agency, PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk began the filibuster at 11:40 a.m. on Monday. The move was an attempt to prevent the passage of a bill that would create a special tribunal to address insurrection cases linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's unsuccessful attempt at martial law in December 2024.
The filibuster was brought to a halt around 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday when the DP, leveraging its parliamentary majority, voted to end the speech exactly 24 hours after it commenced. This action was possible under the National Assembly Act, which allows a filibuster to be concluded if at least three-fifths of all lawmakers, or 180 members, agree to the termination.