Choo Faces Disciplinary Action Over Labor Bill
By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporter
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has decided to take disciplinary action against Rep. Choo Mi-ae for her role in railroading a controversial labor bill.
``Choo will face punitive measures in accordance with party regulations,'' DP chairman Chung Sye-kyun said in a meeting Monday.
Last Wednesday, Choo, chairwoman of the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee, endorsed a compromise trade union bill that she proposed in the absence of her DP lawmaker colleagues who belonged to the committee.
Critics say the three-term legislator should be held responsible for blocking DP representatives from entering the conference room during the voting by exercising her right to maintain order.
Some hardliners of the party went as far as to call her a ``turncoat,'' saying the DP should force her to quit the party.
The DP Ethics Committee will look into the case, sources said. It can issue punishments that range from suspension of party membership to expulsion.
However, Choo threw the blame on party leaders, saying they had failed to represent the voices of party members.
``The DP not only neglected to adopt an official party platform based on the views of its lawmakers, but party leaders also failed to express their official stance,'' she said.
Choo also claimed the DP's demands for the labor law was unreasonable, calling for a public hearing where she can explain the legitimacy of her contentious actions.
The DP has been against her compromise bill, largely because umbrella unions were excluded from labor-management negotiations.
Meanwhile, in another twist, the governing Grand National Party extolled Choo for her leadership in handling the disputed labor bill.
``Choo has shed new light on political leadership for legislators who have become helpless against party interests and their own desire to look good in public,'' GNP Chairman Chung Mong-joon said.
Chung said Choo has offered a glimmer of hope to Korean politics which lies ``at the end of a dark tunnel.''