Opposition party`s seizure of main Assembly hall enters third day

SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's National Assembly
remained deadlocked for the third straight day on Sunday, as opposition lawmakers
vowed not to end their sit-down unless the ruling party withdraws what they called
"anti-democratic bills."
About 50 members of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) took control of the
Assembly's main hall on Friday to physically block ruling Grand National Party
(GNP) lawmakers from ramming some disputed bills through the one-house
legislature.
The list of disputed bills includes a media reform proposal which critics argue
would open the way for conglomerates and large pro-government newspapers to
acquire a controlling stake in local television broadcasters.
The rival parties are also clashing over various tax cuts for the wealthy,
expanding industrial conglomerates' equity ceiling in banks and easing industrial
regulations in the Seoul metropolitan areas.
The opposition party ruled out a compromise until those disputed bills are
retracted. The ruling party maintains that it can only delay those bills for a
while.
"During this parliamentary session, only the bills, which both parties can agree
on, should be passed," said Won Hye-young, the DP floor leader. "We will be all
united as one and will do everything to block the passage of the 'evil' laws."
The ruling party, with 172 seats in the 299-member Assembly, can unilaterally
pass those bills but it reportedly is concerned it would backfire.
The current National Assembly session is scheduled to end on Jan. 8. Opposition
lawmakers set up barricades with chairs and furniture to block a possible attempt
by ruling party legislators to drive them out of the Assembly hall.
Earlir this month, a group of opposition lawmakers violently clashed with ruling
party legislators over whether to allow a parliamentary committee to handle a
free trade agreement signed with the United States last year.
The 83-seat opposition party fears that the ruling party would use "its numerical
dominance" to ram politically controversial bills through the Assembly.
The opposition party turned down an offer of dialogue made by the ruling party's
floor leader, Hong Joon-pyo, earlier Sunday saying that "the 'evil' bills are not
the subject of negotiations."
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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