🚨 Regular National Assembly Session

Today Korean Social News for Beginners | 2025.10.05

0️⃣ Legislative Vacuum Amid Party Conflict and Filibuster

📌 Lee Jae-myung Government's First Regular Session: Month-long Standoff Starting with Hanbok and Mourning Clothes

💬 The September 2025 regular National Assembly session was marked by severe conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties. Disagreements over key bills including three special prosecutor bills, government reorganization law, and broadcasting policy reform led to repeated filibusters and "24-hour vote" procedures. The majority opposition party pushed bills forward using their seat advantage, while the ruling party responded with unlimited debate. Political trust collapsed, negotiations disappeared, and the National Assembly's consensus-building function weakened significantly, drawing widespread criticism. While some non-controversial bills passed, about 60 agenda items remain pending, raising concerns about government vacuum and legislative backlog. Critics point out that the regular session has become a stage for partisan conflict rather than serving its original purpose of legislation and oversight.

💡 Summary

• The regular National Assembly session is the statutory legislative session held annually from September 1st for 100 days.
• The 2025 regular session saw cooperation collapse amid conflicts over special prosecutor bills and government reorganization.
• Repeated filibusters and majority-vote processing raise concerns about legislative backlog and government vacuum.

1️⃣ Definition

Regular National Assembly Session refers to a statutory legislative session held annually by the National Assembly, convening on September 1st and operating for 100 days according to the Constitution and National Assembly Act. During this period, the National Assembly performs its core legislative functions including national audits, budget reviews, and processing various bills.

The regular session is an important time when the National Assembly checks the executive branch, reviews national finances, and deliberates bills directly affecting citizens' lives. However, in recent years, delays in bill processing due to conflicts between ruling and opposition parties have repeatedly diminished its original purpose.

💡 Why is this important?

• It is the most important session for deciding the national budget and major policy directions.
• It checks executive power and ensures transparency through national audits of the government.
• It performs legislative functions by deliberating and deciding on bills affecting citizens' lives.
• It serves as a political arena for reaching democratic consensus through negotiation and compromise between parties.

2️⃣ Current Status and Problems of the 2025 Regular Session

📕 Major Issues and Party Conflicts

• The breaking of the special prosecutor bill agreement started the distrust. Key developments include:

  • The ruling and opposition parties reached agreement on three special prosecutor bills: the Corporal Chae case, First Lady Kim Keon-hee case, and cases related to Representative Lee Jae-myung.
  • However, the opposition party unilaterally broke the agreement and tried to process the bills in their original form.
  • The ruling party strongly opposed, expressing betrayal and saying further negotiations were impossible.
  • This amplified distrust between the parties throughout the regular session, blocking discussion on all bills.

• Government organization law and broadcasting policy reform clashed. Key points of conflict include:

  • The opposition party pushed forward government reorganization plans, ignoring the ruling party's objections.
  • Broadcasting policy reform plans including the Korea Communications Commission and Broadcasting Culture Promotion Council also became conflict points.
  • The ruling party responded with filibusters but eventually faced votes due to the majority party's seat advantage.
  • The ruling party strongly criticized the opposition's unilateral processing as "dictatorial proceedings."

📕 Repeated Filibusters and 24-Hour Votes

• Unlimited debate turned into delay tactics. Key situations include:

  • The ruling party filed filibusters on major bills to delay processing.
  • The opposition party used motions to end unlimited debate, passing bills with automatic votes after 24 hours.
  • This repeated process led the National Assembly into a war of attrition with all-night debates and votes.
  • The focus was on stalling and procedural battles rather than substantive debate.

• Consensus-based democracy collapsed. Key problems include:

  • Dialogue and negotiation between parties completely broke down, eliminating political compromise.
  • An atmosphere formed where unilateral processing using the majority party's seat advantage became normalized.
  • The National Assembly's essential function of respecting minority opinions and finding middle ground stopped working.
  • Citizens lost trust in the National Assembly, watching political fights rather than productive discussions.

💡 Key Problems of the 2025 Regular Session

1. Trust Collapse: Breaking of the three special prosecutor bill agreement led to extreme distrust between parties
2. Unilateral Processing: Repeated forced passage of bills using the majority party's seat advantage
3. Negotiation Absence: Only filibusters and votes repeated without dialogue and compromise
4. Legislative Backlog: About 60 agenda items pending, increasing concerns about government vacuum
5. Purpose Fading: Partisan conflict dominated over legislative and oversight functions

3️⃣ Regular Session System and Operation Method

✅ Constitutional and Legal Basis

• Article 47 of the Constitution is the legal foundation of the regular session. Key contents include:

  • The Constitution specifies that the National Assembly must convene a regular session once annually.
  • The specific timing and duration of the session are delegated to law.
  • This is to ensure continuity of national operations and stable performance of parliamentary functions.
  • While budgets and legislation are regularly deliberated through regular sessions, effectiveness declines when political conflicts intensify.

• The National Assembly Act establishes specific operating rules. Key provisions include:

  • The National Assembly Act stipulates that the regular session convenes on September 1st annually with a 100-day session period.
  • It details the operation of plenary sessions and standing committees, and procedures for agenda submission and decision.
  • The purpose is to ensure transparency in legislative schedules and efficiency in bill review.
  • However, when agenda conflicts continue during the session, schedule delays become inevitable.

✅ Filibuster and Fast-Track Systems

• Filibuster is a device to protect minority opinions. Key features include:

  • Introduced under Article 106-2 of the National Assembly Act to check unilateral bill processing by the majority.
  • When certain requirements are met, lawmakers can speak unlimitedly in order.
  • The majority party can end debate through a motion to close with 3/5 approval of registered members.
  • While it's a democratic device protecting minority opinions, it's sometimes used as a delay tactic in practice.

• Fast-track is a system guaranteeing bill processing. Key contents include:

  • Also called the expedited agenda designation, it automatically refers agenda to plenary session when requirements are met.
  • It prevents excessively long standing committee reviews or Legislation and Judiciary Committee systematic reviews.
  • It's designated with majority approval of registered members and automatically submitted within a set period.
  • It takes up to 330 days until plenary vote, showing limitations in actual speed.

4️⃣ Related Term Explanations

🔎 National Audit

• National audit is the core system by which the National Assembly checks the executive branch.
  • National audit refers to a system where the National Assembly conducts audits on overall national affairs for up to 20 days during the regular session. According to the Act on National Assembly Audit and Investigation, all central administrative agencies, local governments, and public institutions are subject to audit.
  • Key contents of national audits include: First, each standing committee conducts audits on their respective departments and agencies. Second, they review the appropriateness of budget execution and policy implementation status. Third, they investigate allegations of corruption and irregularities and demand corrections. Fourth, they pursue law revisions or budget adjustments based on audit results.
  • National audit is the most powerful check by the legislature on the executive branch, playing an important role in satisfying citizens' right to know and increasing government transparency. However, when it turns into political battles or popularity-seeking questions are rampant, its original purpose is undermined.

🔎 Budget Review

• Budget review is the core procedure for deciding national finances.
  • Budget review refers to the process where the National Assembly examines and finalizes the government's submitted budget plan for the next year. According to Article 54 of the Constitution and the National Assembly Act, the government must submit the budget plan 120 days before the fiscal year begins, and the National Assembly must decide on it 30 days before the fiscal year starts.
  • The budget review procedure includes: First, the government prepares a comprehensive budget plan through the Ministry of Economy and Finance and submits it to the National Assembly. Second, each standing committee conducts preliminary review of their respective department budgets. Third, the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts conducts comprehensive review. Fourth, the plenary session makes the final decision to confirm the budget.
  • Budget review is an important process determining the direction of national financial operations, deciding where and how much of citizens' taxes will be spent. If party agreement is not reached, budget processing is delayed and government project implementation can face setbacks.

🔎 Plenary Session and Standing Committees

• Plenary session and standing committees are the two pillars of National Assembly operation.
  • Plenary session refers to the assembly where all National Assembly members attend to make final decisions on bills and major agenda items. The National Assembly's decisions are made with majority attendance of registered members and majority approval of attending members, with important agenda requiring higher quorum.
  • Standing committees refer to permanent committees established under Article 37 of the National Assembly Act, which review bills and petitions by jurisdiction. There are 17 standing committees including the Strategy and Finance Committee, Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and National Defense Committee, with lawmakers belonging to one or two committees.
  • Most substantial bill reviews take place in standing committees, with plenary sessions being the final confirmation procedure. Sufficient discussion and revision in standing committees prevents hasty processing in plenary sessions. During regular sessions, standing committee national audits and budget preliminary reviews are core scheduled items.

5️⃣ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What problems arise when the regular National Assembly session breaks down?

A: Government vacuum and legislative backlog directly affect citizens' lives.

• Several problems occur when the regular National Assembly session doesn't function properly. First, delays in budget processing disrupt government projects and create gaps in public service provision. If the budget isn't confirmed before the fiscal year begins, the government can only execute a certain percentage of the previous year's budget, making new project implementation difficult. Second, failure to process livelihood bills directly affecting citizens delays system improvements. When urgent bills on worker rights, small business support, and welfare policies remain pending, citizen harm increases. Third, when national audits turn into political battles, the function of checking the executive branch weakens, missing opportunities to correct government corruption or policy failures.
• Fourth, intensified conflicts between parties destroy citizens' trust in the National Assembly and spread political aversion. This can ultimately lead to skepticism about democratic institutions themselves. The National Assembly, as the representative body of the people, needs a responsible attitude that prioritizes national interest over partisan lines.

Q: How do other countries operate their regular parliamentary sessions?

A: Each country has different session systems and operation methods, but they share the common trait of emphasizing cooperation.

• Parliamentary operation methods worldwide vary according to political systems and traditions. First, the U.S. Congress begins new sessions on January 3rd annually and operates in 2-year cycles. The Senate and House operate their own schedules, and since bicameral agreement is essential, negotiation culture has developed. Second, the UK Parliament begins sessions with the King's Speech and usually lasts one year. Even when the ruling party holds a majority, they guarantee sufficient question time for the opposition and conduct substantial debates. Third, the German Bundestag operates continuously without clear session divisions. Since coalition governments are common, negotiation and compromise between parties are essential.
• Fourth, Japan's Diet holds regular sessions starting in January each year, operating for 150 days. Even in situations where the ruling party lacks a majority, there's a tradition of parties negotiating to process bills. Most democratic nations' parliaments have institutional safeguards to prevent majority party tyranny and respect minority opinions, with deeply rooted cultures that prioritize national interest over political conflict. Korea's National Assembly also needs to establish a culture of cooperation by referring to such examples.

View Table of Contents

• Go to Guide