Minor party head apologizes for rough behavior

SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- The head of a minor opposition party apologized
publicly on Monday for his violent behavior and use of profane language during a
recent standoff in the National Assembly.

"I could not remain patient then. It hurts me more ... that I have dashed the
people's hope for a mature democracy," Rep. Kang Ki-kab, head of the Demoratic
Labor Party (DLP), said in a statement.
Kang was sued by the assembly's secretariat last week for damaging furniture and
cursing at staffers in protest of speaker Kim Hyung-o's decision to physically
remove opposition lawmakers occupying the parliament's main hall.
The main opposition Democratic Party and the DLP had staged a 12-day sit-in
protest beginning in late December to prevent the ruling party from voting on a
free trade deal with the U.S. and other contentious bills.
Prior to the sit-in, opposition lawmakers used sledgehammers to try to pound
their way into a committee room where ruling party lawmakers were meeting to
introduce the bill to ratify the U.S. free trade pact.
That clash ended in violence, with hammers splintering doors and lawmakers
fighting back by spraying fire extinguishers. The melee sparked strong public
criticism and the ruling party vowed to enact laws to prevent violence at the
parliament and punish those who instigate it.
The farmer-turned-legislator, however, refused to apologize to the ruling party
or the government, saying that the nation's legislature "has degenerated into the
rubber stamp of the presidential office."
"I do not have any response to the apology demanded by the secretariat, which
illegally mobilized security officials and took sides with the ruling party,"
said Kang, who defied police summons to appear for questioning on Monday.
He also vowed to abolish the National Assembly's partisan negotiation system,
which allows virtually unilateral decision-making by the ruling party.
The DLP will "continue to fight" bills proposed by the government and the ruling
party during the National Assembly's extraordinary session in February, said
Kang.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)