On August 22, the National Assembly passed the amendment to the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act (EBS Act), led by the Democratic Party of Korea. 

Lawmakers ended the filibuster that had begun on the 21st, putting it to a vote.

 Out of 180 lawmakers present, 179 voted in favor and 1 against. 

Most members of the opposition People Power Party, who had opposed the so-called “three broadcasting laws” (Broadcasting Act, Foundation for Broadcasting Culture Act, and EBS Act), abstained from the vote. 

Under parliamentary rules, a filibuster can be terminated after 24 hours if more than three-fifths of lawmakers (at least 180) agree. The Democratic Party had submitted a motion to end the debate at 10:43 a.m. the previous day.

The EBS Act, the last of the three broadcasting bills to be passed, increases the number of EBS board members from nine to thirteen. 

Appointment rights will now be distributed among various groups: the National Assembly (5), the Viewers’ Committee (2), EBS employees (1), academia (1), educational organizations (2), the Council of Superintendents of Education (1), and the Minister of Education (1). 

The law also mandates that the presidential candidate recommendation committee be made up of at least 100 members, taking gender, age, and regional balance into account.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik remarked, “The long-debated broadcasting reform bills have now been completed through due process. The discussions during the filibuster provided valuable perspectives on the future of media reform, but ultimately the judgment rests with the people.”

Following the vote, the Assembly adjourned in consideration of the People Power Party’s upcoming leadership convention. 

Meanwhile, the so-called “Yellow Envelope Act” (revising Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act) and the second round of amendments to the Commercial Act are scheduled to be introduced on August 23 and 24, respectively. 

Since the opposition plans to request filibusters on these as well, the final vote on the Commercial Act revisions is expected on August 25.