Parties need to refrain from life-or-death skirmish
The ruling and opposition parties should refrain from judicial strife
The National Assembly is largely tasked with coordinating differing opinions to resolve social conflicts. Contrary to this expectation, however, the nation’s leading legislative body has long been the object of public cynicism for locking horns over major pending issues.
The National Assembly has the responsibility to mediate differences in order to resolve social conflicts. Contrary to these expectations, however, the Korean National Assembly has long been a target of cynicism by the public for engaging in political strife over major pending issues.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which dominates the 299-seat Assembly with 169 members, cannot deflect criticism for having unilaterally handled significant social agendas at its discretion. The ruling People Power Party (PPP), for its part, has also been disparaged for its inability to lead the opposition party toward negotiation and compromise.
The Democratic Party of Korea, which holds 299 seats in the National Assembly with 169 members, cannot avoid criticism for unilaterally handling important social agendas. The power of the people, the ruling party in power, has also been criticized for failing to lead the opposition party to negotiations and compromise.
What is more worrying is that such extreme confrontation shows no signs of abating and will likely deepen ahead of the general election slated for April next year.
What is more worrisome is that this extreme confrontation is showing no signs of abating ahead of the general elections in April next year, and is likely to intensify.
For starters, the DPK took the lead in passing a bill requiring the government to purchase rice from farmers to help stabilize market prices on Thursday. The DPK dealt with the bill unilaterally despite growing demand for debate over possible side effects in case of introducing the bill.
First, on Thursday, Democrats took the lead in passing a bill that would allow the government to buy rice from farmers to stabilize market prices. The Democratic Party unilaterally handled the bill despite the growing demand for discussion on the possible side effects of the proposed bill.
The bill, however, will likely face diverse barricades toward effectuation, as the presidential office is poised to take time and collect opinions from various sectors for the amendment. President Yoon Suk Yeol has often vowed to reject it. The DPK, however, is ready to press for its stance and adopt a new bill should the amendment be vetoed. This shows the parties have no intention of budging from their stances, putting the National Assembly on a fierce confrontational track again.
However, as the President’s office is poised to take time and collect opinions from all walks of life on the amendment, the bill is expected to face many obstacles until it takes effect. President Yoon Seok-yeol has stated several times that he will exercise his right to veto (request for reconsideration). But Democrats are poised to adopt a new bill that will reflect their position if the amendment is rejected. This shows that there is no change in the attitude of the two parties, which is driving the National Assembly into a fierce confrontation again.
The Grain Management Act asks the government to buy rice directly from farmers should the harvest of the staple grain exceed 3 percent to 5 percent of the estimated demand or the rice prices fall 5 percent to 8 percent from a year earlier. Controversy has been brewing over the amendment with regard to its efficiency amid concerns over the chronic oversupply of rice, edged by declining consumption and prospects of a deteriorating governmental budget.
The amendment to the Grain Management Act requires the government to directly purchase rice from farmers when the rice yield exceeds 3 to 5 percent of expected demand or when the price of rice falls by 5 to 8 percent compared to the previous year. Controversy has arisen over the effectiveness of the amendments amid concerns about a chronic rice oversupply, in addition to the prospect of declining consumption and deteriorating government budgets.
The DPK has been adding fuel to the already burning fire over the possibly deepening political scuffle. On the same day, the party passed another bill designed to boost the welfare and rights of nurses ― despite ferocious resistance from medical doctors. The bill should have been handled very cautiously in light of the sharply differing positions maintained by the relevant organizations. Without this, the conflict is expected to flare up further as the Korea Medical Association (KMA), a mouthpiece of medical doctors across the nation, has threatened to mobilize all possible measures to protest the possible passage of the bill.
Democrats are adding fuel to an already deepening political melee. On the same day, Democrats passed another bill to promote the welfare and rights of nurses, despite fierce resistance from doctors. Considering the situation in which the positions of related groups are sharply divided, the bill should have been handled very carefully. The conflict is expected to intensify as the Korean Medical Association, the representative of doctors across the country, is threatening to mobilize all available means to protest the bill’s possible passage.
The DPK also decided to table the controversial Broadcasting Act directly to the plenary session despite the PPP’s protest over what it calls an attempt to put major broadcasters under its control. The DPK also bypassed the Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee headed by PPP Rep. Kim Do-eup for voting at a plenary session. A bill needs to be passed by the committee first to be voted at the plenary session. But should the bill remain pending at the committee for 60 days, it can be bypassed and be tabled directly at a plenary session.
The Democratic Party also decided to bring the controversial broadcasting law to control major broadcasters directly to the plenary session despite the protests of the people’s power. The Democratic Party also bypassed the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly chaired by Rep. Kim Do-eup for a vote at the plenary session that day. In order for a bill to pass in the plenary session, it must first pass in the Judiciary Committee. However, if the bill is pending in committee for 60 days, it can be bypassed and brought directly to plenary session.
What matters is that the unilateral passage of the disputed bills will burden the people. It is natural to collect opinions from various circles of society to reach a compromise on sensitive social issues covering relevant organizations and the government. For this, the National Assembly is supposed to mediate the parties and extract compromises.
What is important is that the unilateral handling of controversial bills puts a burden on the public. It is only natural to seek a compromise on sensitive social issues involving relevant institutions and governments by collecting opinions from all walks of life. To this end, the National Assembly must mediate between the parties and come to a compromise.
Mar. Sun (Tuesday) The Korea Times editorial
KEY WORDS
■ Refrain from refrain from
■ skirmish small collision[언쟁]
■ disparage
■ abate (strength) weakens
■ be poised to
■ add fuel to the fire to fan the fire, exacerbate the problem
■ unilateral
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