Liberal lawmaker takes over minority seat, signals shift in power balance

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- A liberal legislator who campaigned against President
Lee Myung-bak in 2007 will head a parliamentary negotiating group this year,
signaling a subtle shift in the balance of power for South Korea's National
Assembly.
Moon Kook-hyun, chairman of the progressive Renewal of Korea Party (RKP), will
head the negotiating body for one year beginning this month, giving power to the
largest opposition party staunchly opposed to President Lee's economic reform
plans, including an early ratification of a free trade pact with Washington.
In August, two minor opposition parties forged an alliance to voice their opinion
as a third parliamentary negotiating group. The move marked the first time since
1996 that South Korea's bipolar parliament had more than two negotiating blocks.

The minority group, holding a combined 21 seats in the 299-member unicameral
house, was formerly led by Lee Hoi-chang, the ultra-conservative Liberty Forward
Party (LFP) chairman, and had often sided with President Lee's Grand National
Party (GNP).
With an alliance driven primarily to meet the minimum 20-seat requirement to form
a negotiating body, the two parties have demonstrated widely disparate views
regarding North Korea, Seoul's alliance with Washington and labor relations.
"It is true that we often had different ideas from the Liberty Forward Party
about matters in parliament mostly due to the ideological split," said an RKP
official, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. "Our basic
stance will not immediately change, especially concerning the current deadlock in
the legislature, but we will definitely be voicing more critical opinion toward
government policies."
"Our party is against far-reaching tax cuts and legislation of bills that may
trigger further disputes with North Korea," he added.
Some observers have raised concerns about the timing of Moon's chairmanship,
arguing it could further complicate the ongoing partisan negotiations to end a
month-long legislative vacuum.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has been occupying parliament's main
chamber for eight consecutive days, attempting to stop its ruling rival from
railroading controversial bills it calls "anti-democratic" and "unfair to the
underprivileged."
Despite mediating efforts by the parliamentary speaker, rival parties have been
unsuccessful in reaching agreement on the timing of approving a US$30 billion
free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States and media ownership
deregulation.
Law enforcement officials mobilized by Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o have been
blockading the parliament since Tuesday, ready to force out legislators from the
main hall so that pending bills can be put up for vote.
"We are looking forward to seeing more action by the Liberty-Renewal negotiating
group (following Moon's chairmanship)," said Choi Jae-sung, spokesman of the main
opposition DP.
Moon, 60, is an ex-CEO who is especially popular with young South Koreans for his
liberal views.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)