Sit-in continues at National Assembly

Despite National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o`s strong warnings against a sit-in in the main chamber, lawmakers of major political parties continued to occupy it yesterday.

The rival parties formed groups to make rotations throughout the day to watch each other, fearing that either side may take over the Assembly speaker`s seat in an attempt to pass or block the passage of controversial bills being pushed by the ruling Grand National Party.

With observers calling the situation a comedy, prospects for negotiation and dialogue looked dim, as the GNP and the main opposition Democratic Party both insisted that they would end their sit-ins if the other side gave up.

"We believe the ruling party`s reason for occupying the main chamber is to prepare for the passage of the media-related bills that would take place within the next few days," said DP floor leader Lee Kang-rae. "Acknowledging this misbehavior, we can`t just let it pass by."



GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo stressed that the DP was prepared to resort to violent methods to take the chamber.

"The only way to normalize the operations of the parliament is to pass the media-related bills, which is what we`ve promised earlier to the citizens," he said.

GNP Chairman Park Hee-tae also asked its lawmakers to endure and overcome the physical difficulties they are currently facing to pass the bills.

As both political parties show no willingness for any flexibility over the controversial bills, the sit-ins are projected to continue through the end of the parliamentary session, which is next Saturday.

In an afternoon meeting held between Speaker Kim and the floor leaders of the rival parties, Kim suggested extending the parliamentary session until July 31 based on the condition that they will put the media-related bills to a floor vote by then.

But the DP floor leader turned it down, saying that a conclusion should be reached by having the political parties reach common ground through their discussions.

What is surfacing as a possible solution, however, is former GNP Chairwoman Park Geun-hye`s proposal regarding the media bill - limiting the market share of a single company to 30 percent of terrestrial broadcasting, general television channels and news-only cable channels.

"It would be favorable for the governing party and the opposition parties to hammer out an agreement and it could be done in a rational way," the former GNP chairwoman said.

She added that the nation could promote diversity of the media and root out the possibility of a single company`s monopoly of the market if the limitation in market share was made.

The DP and the minor opposition Renewal Korea Party welcomed Park`s statement, stating that it could be discussed further.

"We highly value the fact that she called for an agreement over the issue and we hope the GNP also supports her proposal and takes actions accordingly," said Lee Kang-rae of the DP.

Rep. Lee Yong-kyung of the RKP said the party was in favor of Park`s suggestion but added that a survey on the status of the media industry must be conducted first.

(sharon@heraldm.com)



By Cho Ji-hyun