(2nd LD) Assembly deadlock to continue into New Year

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; MODIFIES throughout with updates)
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- Opposition lawmakers exhausted from a nearly week-long
sit-in at the National Assembly were poised to greet the New Year at the
legislature as party leaders failed to reconcile differences over President Lee
Myung-bak's economic bills.

Concerns of physical clashes between the two sides have been escalating after the
Assembly chief invoked his authority late Tuesday night, requesting assistance
from law enforcement authorities to break up the occupation of the assembly hall
by the main opposition so that pending bills can be put to a vote.
In an effort to prevent a repeat of violent clashes that erupted last week over
the ruling party's unilateral vote to introduce a free trade pact with the United
States, Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o offered to mediate a meeting between party
leaders.
Both parties turned down the proposal, however, with the ruling party agitated
over the ongoing occupation of the parliament and the main opposition demanding
several market-oriented bills be scrapped.
The liberal Democratic Party (DP) is seeking to prevent the ruling Grand National
Party (GNP) from passing a US$30 billion free trade agreement (FTA) with
Washington and other bills it calls "pro-conglomerate," including media ownership
deregulation. The party says South Korea should wait until the U.S. Congress
approves the FTA before voting on the legislation.
Occupying the main chamber is the party's last-ditch attempt to stop its ruling
rival, which controls 172 seats in the 299-member unicameral house, from
unilaterally passing the bills. The DP holds 83 seats.
"There will be no negotiations until the opposition party ends its sit-in," said
GNP leader Park Hee-tae.
The ruling party officially requested the Assembly speaker to use his authority
in putting 85 "key bills" it has selected to a vote and immediately forcing out
any lawmakers who objected.
More time will be needed before the final decision is made, an aide to Assembly
Speaker Kim said, adding that the "last thing we need is violence on the first
day of the New Year."
More than 100 security guards mobilized by the Assembly speaker have been
blockading the parliament since late Tuesday and are waiting for orders to
forcefully expel opposition party lawmakers who have been occupying the
legislature's main chamber for six consecutive days.
Nearly all members of the main opposition DP plan to camp out at the parliament
all night, conducting drills to prevent themselves from being "dragged out" by
guards. A "human chain" will be formed around the speaker's podium to stop him
from opening a vote, the party said.
The confrontation threatens to deepen South Korea's economic paralysis as the
country is on the verge of its first recession in a decade. Dozens of crucial
economic rescue plans have been held hostage amid the partisan conflict.
Of the more than 2,600 bills that have been introduced to the legislature since
it convened in May, fewer than 300 have been voted on so far. Some 300 will be
automatically discarded at the end of 2008.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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