Seoul: Lawmakers from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Wednesday launched sit-in protests to try to block eight bills pushed by the ruling Democratic Party (DP), including one that would set up a special insurrection tribunal. The PPP's move comes as the DP, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, has been pushing for a set of contentious judiciary reform measures, including a bill on creating a special tribunal to handle insurrection cases stemming from former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the DP is also seeking to pass legislation that would punish judges and prosecutors for intentionally distorting legal principles or manipulating facts in a case under trial or investigation. Both proposals have been met with resistance among the opposition and the judiciary. Earlier in the day, the PPP staged sit-in protests in front of the National Assembly and 253 regional offices, accusing the ruling party of attempting to "take over" the judiciary, and vowed to continue with the protest until the DP withdraws the bills.

"If the eight harmful bills pass (the Assembly), South Korea's democracy will collapse and eventually the entire country will collapse," PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok told reporters inside the tent. Floor leader Song Eon-seog also said the bills will steer the nation toward a "totalitarian" state if they are passed. "All 107 lawmakers of the PPP will make all-out efforts to block the eight harmful bills," Song said. "We will fight alongside the people, both inside the National Assembly and on the streets."

The PPP also ramped up its criticism of Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, who cut off the microphone during PPP Rep. Na Kyung-won's filibuster just 13 minutes after it began at a plenary session the previous day, denouncing it as an unprecedented attempt to "silence" the party. Deputy Assembly Speaker Joo Ho-young noted that a National Assembly speaker has cut off a lawmaker's microphone only twice in history, the latest case taking place in 1964.