(2nd LD) National Assembly opens extra session to pass bills

(ATTN: UPDATES with DP's plan for hearing, police probe of minor party head at bottom)
SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's National Assembly, paralyzed for weeks by
opposition protests, opened an extraordinary session Friday to pass scores of
non-contentious bills aimed at boosting the country's ailing economy.
Lawmakers are expected to pass some 40 state budget bills and a number of minor
social welfare bills during the five-day session. Committees are scheduled to
convene during the day to present their respective bills.
Thursday marked the end of a previous extraordinary session marred by violent
scuffles and a sit-in by opposition parties at the main parliamentary chamber to
block voting on proposed deregulation reforms and a free trade agreement (FTA)
with the U.S.
Earlier this week, parties agreed to vote on the free trade accord as soon as
possible after U.S. President-elect Barack Obama takes office this month, as well
as on a number of key bills regarding bank ownership and other reform measures
during another extraordinary session slated for February.
President Lee Myung-bak and his Grand National Party (GNP) are pushing for quick
ratification of the FTA and reforms that they say will help steer the
export-driven economy through the global financial crisis. The reforms include
cutting taxes, easing bank ownership regulations and privatizing state-run firms.
The ruling party plans to focus on informing the public of the supposed benefits
that would result from media ownership deregulation. The reform proposal has
drawn strong opposition from broadcasters who argue it is a government attempt
control the media.
"We will pool our efforts to put the bill to a vote during the extra session in
February," GNP Floor Leader Hong Joon-pyo said in a radio interview.
In a meeting with party staffers, Hong also vowed to present a special bill aimed
at preventing violent protests at the National Assembly.
Chung Sye-kyun, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), said at a
staff meeting that the DP "will not remain idle" should the GNP attempt to
unilaterally railroad through bills without prior discussion. The GNP has a solid
majority in parliament, holding 172 seats in the 298-member unicameral Assembly.
DP spokesman Choi Jae-sung said his party will seek a parliamentary hearing on
the voting standoff to find out how the confrontation began, apparently an effort
to deflect criticism of the party's sit-in protest.
Meanwhile, local police said they summoned Rep. Kang Ki-kab, head of the minor
Demoratic Labor Party, to appear for questioning next week in an investigation of
his alleged violent behavior at the parliament.
The parliament's secretariat sued Kang on Thursday and demanded an apology for
damaging furnitures and cursing at staffers during the parliamentary clash.
odissy@yna.co.kr