Public shows rage toward confrontational politics
The public rage toward the National Assembly has resulted in active online petitions on Cheong Wa Dae's website to disband the nation's two biggest political parties.
The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are both facing a strong backlash from protesters on an online petition site of the presidential office for their respective handling of the fast-tracking of reform bills supported by the DPK and three smaller parties. The bills are related to reforming the Election Law, establishing a new investigative agency for dealing with corruption among elite government officials and expanding the police's investigative authority.
More than 1.6 million people have signed the online petition as of Thursday to demand the disbandment of the LKP, which has been against fast-tracking the bills, threatening to boycott Assembly activities and protesting in the streets. The petition was posted on April 22 and has set a record on the Cheong Wa Dae website for the number of signatures.
After failing to block the four parties from proceeding with the fast-tracking of the bills, some lawmakers of the main opposition, including LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn and floor leader Rep. Na Kyung-won, held a protest at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. Rep. Na even suggested that North Korea was behind the online petition. It is uncertain how many of the people sympathize with their claim that the reform bills are an attempt to extend "leftist rule" or their labeling of President Moon Jae-in as "authoritarian." Some of them caused a scene at the Assembly by shaving their heads in protest of the bills. Their methods of protest are outdated and have only aggravated public sentiment against the main opposition.
This is not to say the ruling party has a lighter load of responsibility in causing the current situation at the National Assembly. About 270,000 people have signed a petition to disband the DPK as well, claiming the ruling party has instigated the political chaos by ignoring the largest opposition party, thereby undermining the principle of parliamentary consensus for its own gain. Although the number of petitioners against the DPK is considerably smaller than those against the main opposition, both parties should feel ashamed for causing such harsh public resentment.
Cheong Wa Dae is supposed to issue a position on any petition that is supported by more than 200,000 people. The disbandment of the two biggest parties is unrealistic, but the petitions for this should serve as an impetus for both parties to act more responsibly and end the political impasse as soon as possible. The parties should now focus on negotiations to address the flaws in the bills so that the anti-corruption bill and other necessary reform drives can actually bear fruit.
The public rage toward the National Assembly has resulted in active online petitions on Cheong Wa Dae's website to disband the nation's two biggest political parties.
The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are both facing a strong backlash from protesters on an online petition site of the presidential office for their respective handling of the fast-tracking of reform bills supported by the DPK and three smaller parties. The bills are related to reforming the Election Law, establishing a new investigative agency for dealing with corruption among elite government officials and expanding the police's investigative authority.
More than 1.6 million people have signed the online petition as of Thursday to demand the disbandment of the LKP, which has been against fast-tracking the bills, threatening to boycott Assembly activities and protesting in the streets. The petition was posted on April 22 and has set a record on the Cheong Wa Dae website for the number of signatures.
After failing to block the four parties from proceeding with the fast-tracking of the bills, some lawmakers of the main opposition, including LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn and floor leader Rep. Na Kyung-won, held a protest at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. Rep. Na even suggested that North Korea was behind the online petition. It is uncertain how many of the people sympathize with their claim that the reform bills are an attempt to extend "leftist rule" or their labeling of President Moon Jae-in as "authoritarian." Some of them caused a scene at the Assembly by shaving their heads in protest of the bills. Their methods of protest are outdated and have only aggravated public sentiment against the main opposition.
This is not to say the ruling party has a lighter load of responsibility in causing the current situation at the National Assembly. About 270,000 people have signed a petition to disband the DPK as well, claiming the ruling party has instigated the political chaos by ignoring the largest opposition party, thereby undermining the principle of parliamentary consensus for its own gain. Although the number of petitioners against the DPK is considerably smaller than those against the main opposition, both parties should feel ashamed for causing such harsh public resentment.
Cheong Wa Dae is supposed to issue a position on any petition that is supported by more than 200,000 people. The disbandment of the two biggest parties is unrealistic, but the petitions for this should serve as an impetus for both parties to act more responsibly and end the political impasse as soon as possible. The parties should now focus on negotiations to address the flaws in the bills so that the anti-corruption bill and other necessary reform drives can actually bear fruit.
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