Ruling party lawmakers called Monday for amending a law to stop members of a disbanded party from standing for election.

Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the Saenuri Party made the proposal three days after the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of disbanding the minor opposition Unified Progressive Party (UPP) for disrupting the country's basic democratic order through its pursuit of North Korean socialism.

The ruling also stripped the UPP's five lawmakers of their seats in parliament. By-elections will be held in April for the three directly elected seats, while the two proportional representation seats will be left empty until the next general elections slated for 2016.

"UPP lawmakers who have lost their seats can stand (for election) under current laws," Ha said during a party meeting. "On this matter, Reps. Kim Jin-tae and Lee No-gun (of the Saenuri Party) have submitted a bill. In combination with it, our party should draw up a unified bill."

Last year, Kim and Lee submitted a proposal calling for an amendment to the Public Official Election Act to restrict lawmakers, councilors and local government chiefs of a dissolved party from standing for election for 10 years from the date of the ruling.

Kim Moo-sung, the chief of the ruling party, urged the country's "progressive forces" to abandon their pro-North Korean leanings and show the public their "healthy progressive" side.

He also called on the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) to sever its ties with such progressive forces, referring to their coalition during past elections.

NPAD's interim chief, Moon Hee-sang, however, called for more caution as he cited such constitutional values as the freedom of association and the freedom to establish political parties.

Woo Yoon-keun, NPAD's floor leader, said the make-up of the nine-member Constitutional Court should be reviewed to ensure fair rulings. The court voted 8-1 in favor of the UPP's disbandment. (Yonhap)