DUP vows to scrap lawmakers' perks

The main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) announced a set of measures designed to give up perks entitled for lawmakers, including pensions, Sunday.

Currently those who have served as a lawmaker for more than a day are entitled to receiving 1.2 million won every month if they turn 65 years. The perks will continue until they die.

The DUP plans to scrap this for the new National Assembly members who will serve for four years until 2016 as lawmakers.

The measures also include ways preventing incumbent lawmakers from holding a separate external position that would earn extra income.

The new measure requires a minimum four years of service and a retired politician has to prove that he or she has a moderate amount of income and property. Also, if convicted of a crime, a politician loses the pension.

A recent incident sparked this very debate, as the two lawmakers from the Unified Progressive Party were threatened to get stripped of their seats after one day in office.

The measure is also expected to evaporate titles like politician-professor, politician- doctor, or politician-accountant. According to the measure, politicians would be completely banned from holding a position that would generate income and profit.

Acknowledging common practice of the abuse of political immunity, the measure also made a vow to put a halt to it.

Despite disciplinary and sacrificing tone, the measure has almost zero possibilities to make its way into the law any time soon.