By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

The governing Grand National Party (GNP) will take legal action over the violent clash that took place at the National Assembly last Thursday over a trade pact with the United States, party officials said Tuesday.

``There was an attempt to block a parliamentary committee with a sledgehammer and chainsaw, which is unheard of and very shameful,'' GNP Secretary General An Kyung-ryul said. ``People who were involved in the violent clash or helped taking the tools into parliament must be identified and punished regardless of their positions.''

Photos show lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and their secretaries using a sledgehammer to break into a room from which GNP members ― who were locked in while deputies from both parties scuffled ― retaliated by spraying fire extinguishers.

The DP boycotted the Assembly for the sixth consecutive day in a row Tuesday, urging the GNP to apologize for the unilateral introduction of a motion to ratify the free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States.

An, a three-term lawmaker, also called for the prevention of similar incidents in the future.

He also claimed that guards of the National Assembly secretariat should take partial blame for allowing the sledgehammer into the building.

Last Thursday, lawmakers from the GNP and the DP brawled over the GNP's unilateral move to advance the contentious motion to ratify the FTA to the main floor for a final vote.

GNP members locked the room in the Assembly where the motion was introduced and DP members vandalized the doors in attempt to stop the introduction.

The four-hour clash, according to the secretariat, left 19.8-million-won ($15,350) in damage to the doors and tables and one parliament guard with an injury that will take three weeks to heal.

The largest opposition DP has insisted that the passage of the motion must come after the government prepares remedial measures for farmers and other businessmen, who are expected to see losses after the trade deal comes into effect.

GNP floor leader Hong Joon-pyo supported the contemplated legal action, saying ``Unidentified people who are neither opposition lawmakers nor their secretaries are making the Assembly a lawless place by occupying committee chambers.''

The DP reaffirmed that it would continue to boycott the Assembly unless the ruling camp apologizes even though the GNP suggested having talks.

DP Chairman Chung Sye-kyun told reporters that no dialogue was planned at the moment.

On Sunday, the ruling party said it would try to resolve differences via various channels along with the opposition group until Thursday.

It also threatened to review the motion and other pending bills and advance them to the main floor after the deadline by asking Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o to invoke his right to do so.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr