[Politics & Diplomacy] Tensions between rival parties escalate ahead of vote on contentious bills

Tensions are escalating between the rival parties in South Korea's National Assembly ahead of Thursday's plenary session, where contentious bills are set to be addressed.

For more on the key legislation and what lies ahead this week, we turn to our political correspondent Shin Ha-young.

Welcome Ha-young.

Good evening.

Ha-young, there had been a dispute between the rival parties over this week's plenary session schedule, but it has since been adjusted by bipartisan agreement.

You're right. Initially, the ruling Democratic Party had planned to hold plenary sessions from Thursday to Sunday to push ahead with contentious bills that were left unresolved during the July extraordinary session.

But the rival parties agreed not to bring up bills on Friday, the day of the main opposition People Power Party convention, and instead add another session next Monday.

The agreement came after the PPP asked National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik to delay the sessions until after its convention, while the DP wanted to stick to the original schedule.

"Return immediately to a politics of dialogue and communication."

"Attempts to spoil the opposition's convention will surely be judged by the people."

Yesterday, Speaker Woo urged both parties to discuss it further, and they later met with him to finalize the changes.

As a result, the contentious bills will be put to a vote during the upcoming plenary sessions, except on Friday, while filibusters will be launched by the PPP against the remaining bills, that it argues are being pushed forward without bipartisan agreement.

The schedule has been adjusted, but the rival parties remain at odds over the key bills. So, what's on the table?

Well, on Thursday, one of the remaining media reform bills, aimed at changing how the heads of public broadcasters are appointed --this time targeting MBC --will be put to a vote.

The bill was introduced by the DP during the previous plenary session but was not voted on, as the July extraordinary session came to a close at midnight, following a PPP filibuster.

Following Thursday's vote, the DP plans to immediately introduce another media reform bill targeting EBS, which is expected to trigger another filibuster by the PPP.

The bill is expected to be put to a vote on Saturday, while the so-called "Yellow Envelope Bill" and a revision to the Commercial Act are scheduled to be addressed one after another.

The Yellow Envelope Bill is essentially an amendment to labor union laws that limits employer actions against striking union members, including retaliatory measures.

The PPP has repeatedly emphasized that many businesses, both in Korea and abroad, are concerned about the bill, and the government and ruling party should consider revising it rather than forcing it through.

Let's hear what the businesses have to say.

"The passage of the Yellow Envelope Act in the National Assembly could affect Korea's reputation as a regional hub for multinational companies."

However, the DP hasn't changed its plan to push the bill through, and President Lee Jae Myung also made it clear that it should meet global standards, showing he's determined to see it passed.

"Regarding the Yellow Envelope Act, the President said that there are certain aspects that need to be aligned with those of advanced countries, and workers' rights should meet global standards."

A revision to the Commercial Act aims to strengthen corporate governance transparency and protect minority shareholders' rights, particularly within large corporations.

All these bills are being championed by the DP, while the PPP remains staunchly opposed.

Right, so tensions will be running high throughout the upcoming plenary sessions. But is there any chance of bipartisan cooperation?

Well, the growing tensions between the ruling and opposition parties are evident even outside the plenary sessions.

Recently, the party leaders have met at several events but maintained a tense atmosphere.

On Monday, they sat side by side at a memorial service for the late former President Kim Dae-jung , but they neither shook hands nor made eye contact, just staring straight ahead as if the other weren't there.

A similar scene was captured during last Friday's Liberation Day ceremony.

Amid all this, with confirmation hearings for the education and gender equality ministers still upcoming, tensions between the rival parties are expected to rise.

Given the current strain, it may be too early to say whether there will be room for bipartisan cooperation, but it's certainly something to watch as the August sessions unfold.

Alright, thank you, Ha-young, for your wrap-up.

Thank you.