Seoul: The ruling Democratic Party (DP) proposed a controversial broadcasting bill aimed at reducing the government's influence over public broadcasters on Monday, prompting the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to launch a filibuster in protest.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the amendment to the Broadcasting Act, which is one of three contentious broadcasting bills aimed at reforming the governance structure of the nation's public broadcast media, was tabled at a parliamentary plenary session before the Assembly's extraordinary session ends at midnight Tuesday. The proposal seeks to weaken the government and the National Assembly's power to name board directors.

In response, PPP lawmakers initiated a filibuster at 4:01 p.m. in an effort to block the bill. Earlier in the day, DP leader Jung Chung-rae indicated that the ruling party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, intends to pass the broadcasting bills during the session.

Jung also stated that the DP plans to push for other bills opposed by the PPP, including the "yellow envelope law," which is designed to broaden labor protections and restrict companies from seeking damages for legitimate union activities. Additionally, a revision to the Commercial Act is being pursued to better protect minority shareholders.

During the session, lawmakers voted to revise the order of the bills to be addressed, prioritizing the Broadcasting Act over the Commercial Act and the yellow envelope bill. A filibuster involves lawmakers holding the floor for extended periods as a strategy to prevent a parliamentary vote or delay the passage of a bill. Under the National Assembly Act, a filibuster can be halted after 24 hours if at least three-fifths of all parliament members, or 180 lawmakers, consent to it.

As the extraordinary session of the Assembly draws to a close, only one bill can realistically be passed.