Why are they so hectic to become a lawmaker?

By Park Si-soo

How a nice job is that of a lawmaker?

This is a question many Korean people have in mind as the general election is only two months away. The April 11 election will decide the owners of 299 seats in the country’s unicameral National Assembly for the next four years.

To become a parliamentary member is a great honor for the elected as well as their family in a democratic society.

They are treated as minister-level officials by the government and enjoy a wide range of legal privileges such as exemption from liability and arrest while the National Assembly is in session.

Yet what attracts more attention are the jaw-dropping benefits reserved for the newcomers.

Each lawmaker is given more than 100 different benefits, subsidies and special services by law to ensure their work goes smoothly.

They are paid around 9.4 million won ($8,400) monthly and given 6.7 million won in special allowances. A spacious office at the Assembly is available for free and they can hire up to eight assistants, including two interns, with taxpayers’ money. Nearly 500 million won is paid annually to each lawmaker, government data shows.

They can use rail services, including the KTX bullet train free of charge. A luxury sedan is given to each legislator and the gas bills are covered by the government.

They also have free air travel with first-class seats as long as they use Korean airlines, and a VIP waiting room at local airports is always reserved for them.

Nearly 60 different amenities at the National Assembly, including a fitness center and hospital among others, are free to use.

Benefits continue to be provided even after they are unseated, in the form of a pension. In 2010, the parliament legalized the monthly payment of 1.2 million won to former lawmakers aged 65 or over in a special pension program.

The ruling Saenuri Party is moving to abolish the program after facing public criticism.