By Kang Seung-woo
Some ruling party lawmakers have drawn criticism for an attempt to add diplomatic perks to the existing list of privileges enjoyed by Assemblymen.
According to the National Assembly Secretariat, Thursday, Rep. Ahn Hong-joon of the Saenuri Party proposed a bill on April 3 that would allow lawmakers to obtain a diplomatic passport. Ten other ruling party lawmakers signed the proposal.
Under the enforcement ordinance of the Passport Act, a diplomatic passport is only issued to incumbent and former Presidents, the speaker of the National Assembly, the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the president of the Constitutional Court, and their spouses and unmarried sons and daughters who are aged under 27.
A diplomatic passport holder has the privilege of diplomatic immunity, meaning exemption from arrest or detention while overseas. They are also allowed to use separate gates at entry and departure at airports.
Usually, lawmakers, who belong to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, are issued the passport, but they return it when quitting the committee.
Ahn, a third-term lawmaker who represents Masan, South Gyeongsang Province, headed the committee from March 2013 to May 2014.
Critics say that lawmakers agreeing to the bill want to enjoy special privileges outside Korea amid growing criticism urging lawmakers to discard their benefits.
"Even now, they enjoy a great number of privileges, including immunity from arrest, but the proposal means a rejection of calls to give them up," said Hangil Research director Hong Hyeong-sik.
"The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy probably knew of the move, but no resistance from the party means they tacitly agreed to it."
Hong added that the fate of the bill depends on the intensity of possible public criticism, but he said it is likely to be passed.
"Currently, a corruption scandal linked to close aides of President Park Geun-hye is sweeping through the nation, catching the public eye," said the political analyst.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also opposed the bill.
"Lawmakers, who do not perform diplomatic activity are trying to arbitrarily enjoy the status of diplomat," an official was quoted as saying.
Even, a lawmaker of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee criticized the bill, saying that the expansion of the privilege can be seen as a move to enjoy more benefits.
Amid growing criticism, Ahn said in a media interview, "A diplomatic passport for every lawmaker would help them conduct lawmaker diplomacy."
"I believe that lawmakers will not exploit the passport, because it has already been issued to members of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, so my bill is part of eliminating discrimination among lawmakers," he argued.
Some ruling party lawmakers have drawn criticism for an attempt to add diplomatic perks to the existing list of privileges enjoyed by Assemblymen.
According to the National Assembly Secretariat, Thursday, Rep. Ahn Hong-joon of the Saenuri Party proposed a bill on April 3 that would allow lawmakers to obtain a diplomatic passport. Ten other ruling party lawmakers signed the proposal.
Under the enforcement ordinance of the Passport Act, a diplomatic passport is only issued to incumbent and former Presidents, the speaker of the National Assembly, the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the president of the Constitutional Court, and their spouses and unmarried sons and daughters who are aged under 27.
A diplomatic passport holder has the privilege of diplomatic immunity, meaning exemption from arrest or detention while overseas. They are also allowed to use separate gates at entry and departure at airports.
Usually, lawmakers, who belong to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, are issued the passport, but they return it when quitting the committee.
Ahn, a third-term lawmaker who represents Masan, South Gyeongsang Province, headed the committee from March 2013 to May 2014.
Critics say that lawmakers agreeing to the bill want to enjoy special privileges outside Korea amid growing criticism urging lawmakers to discard their benefits.
"Even now, they enjoy a great number of privileges, including immunity from arrest, but the proposal means a rejection of calls to give them up," said Hangil Research director Hong Hyeong-sik.
"The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy probably knew of the move, but no resistance from the party means they tacitly agreed to it."
Hong added that the fate of the bill depends on the intensity of possible public criticism, but he said it is likely to be passed.
"Currently, a corruption scandal linked to close aides of President Park Geun-hye is sweeping through the nation, catching the public eye," said the political analyst.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also opposed the bill.
"Lawmakers, who do not perform diplomatic activity are trying to arbitrarily enjoy the status of diplomat," an official was quoted as saying.
Even, a lawmaker of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee criticized the bill, saying that the expansion of the privilege can be seen as a move to enjoy more benefits.
Amid growing criticism, Ahn said in a media interview, "A diplomatic passport for every lawmaker would help them conduct lawmaker diplomacy."
"I believe that lawmakers will not exploit the passport, because it has already been issued to members of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, so my bill is part of eliminating discrimination among lawmakers," he argued.
![[INTERVIEW] Can art become stable investment source?](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/d9b4b117e5b74f4c931de724ebd2ee68.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Choi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/8b795a8f6b42492db4e8fdc47e9abd8d.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Ahn Jae-hong on playing underdog basketball coach in 'Rebound'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/fe381342632c46bfa6d3245cb475676e.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
