Ruling party boycotts talks over minor opposition leader

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Rival parties' negotiations on resolving a month-long
parliamentary deadlock hit a snag Friday, as the ruling party boycotted talks
aimed at reaching a compromise over a trade deal with the U.S., media ownership
deregulation and other government-led bills.
The liberal Democratic Party (DP) is seeking to prevent the ruling Grand National
Party (GNP) from passing a US$30 billion trade pact with the U.S. and other
market-oriented bills. It says South Korea should wait until the U.S. Congress
approves the free trade agreement before voting on the legislation.
During a scheduled meeting of rival parties' floor leaders, Hong Joon-pyo, GNP's
floor leader, walked out in protest at the participation of Moon Kook-hyun,
chairman of the progressive Renewal of Korea Party (RKP).
The RKP and the conservative Liberty Forward Party (LFP) forged an alliance in
August to more strongly voice their opinions as a third parliamentary negotiating
group.
The minority group, holding a combined 21 seats in the 299-member unicameral
house, was formerly led by Lee Hoi-chang, the ultra-conservative LFP chairman,
and had often sided with President Lee Myung-bak and the GNP.
"Please let us conclude the negotiations with those that have carried them out so
far," Hong said in a meeting with Moon and DP floor leader Won Hye-young, before
walking out of the meeting.
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 liberal DP has been occupying parliament's main chamber for eight consecutive
days in opposition to ruling party-led bills it describes as "anti-democratic"
and "unfair to the underprivileged."
odissy@yna.co.kr
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