Main opposition seeks to pass 6 contentious bills vetoed by Yoon

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said Tuesday it will push to pass six bills vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol during a plenary session next week. The National Assembly is likely to hold a revote of four broadcasting bills, pro-labor legislation and another on cash handouts at the session slated for Aug. 28, Noh Jong-myung, a DP spokesperson, told reporters. The four broadcasting bills -- amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act, the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act and the establishment of the Korea Communications Commission -- are aimed at reducing the government's clout over public broadcasters. The other bills call for providing handouts of between 250,000 won (US$182) and 350,000 won to the entire population, and the "yellow envelope bill," which seeks to limit companies from making damage claims against workers during legitimate disputes. Business lobbies and the ruling party have strongly opposed the bill, arguing it would make it difficult for employers to file complaints against illegal strikes by their workers and exempt laborers from liability for participating in them. The bills have slim chances of passing as the Assembly must pass the bills with two-thirds support in order to override Yoon's veto. As the ruling People Power Party holds more than one-third of the Assembly seats, the bills are expected to be ultimately scrapped. Source: Yonhap News Agency