Lawmakers return early amid public criticism

By Chung Min-uck

Lawmakers from the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts are making earlier-than-scheduled returns from costly overseas trips due to mounting criticism of such state-funded sojourns.

Nine members of the committee lately came under fire for traveling overseas using tax payer’s money after the budget bill was passed on Tuesday.

An aggregate 150 million won (around $141,000) was allotted for the trips.

Tuesday’s budget approval marked the first time that the spending plan has been passed since the beginning of the fiscal year.

Rep. Chang Yoon-seok of the ruling Saenuri Party and chair of the committee, returned on Sunday, six days earlier than originally scheduled.

“I am really sorry to cause anxiety to the public,” said Chang in a press release, Sunday.

In a media interview on Monday, he said, “I admit the committee members have failed to meet public standards. From now on, I will try my best to restore trust while serving as a lawmaker.”

Reps. Choi Jae-sung and Hong Young-pyo also cut short their trips the same day. Six remaining committee members are also reportedly planning to return as soon as possible before the originally fixed date which falls on Friday.

Legislators are currently facing severe criticism because, in stark contrast to earlier pledges made to pursue political reforms during the December presidential election, they are preoccupied with protecting their vested rights.

The amount of spending allotted to projects in regional constituencies rose sharply in the latest budget, the approval of which was made behind closed doors during the budget deliberation.

Critics say such a move by the lawmakers is intended to woo voters in their constituencies to increase the chance of getting re-elected.

Lawmaker’s approval of pension benefits also came under fire. They passed state-subsidized pensions for retired lawmakers in this year’s budget, while cutting defense spending and finance for welfare projects.

They originally pledged to scrap such benefits as part of political reform measures.

Those who have served as a lawmaker for more than one day are entitled to receive 1.2 million won (around $1,128) a month after they turn 65.

Against this backdrop, the Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party are seeking to launch a parliamentary committee to push forward a package of political reform measures.

Parties are likely to launch the committee during an extra session of the National Assembly slated to take place this month, and turn earlier pledges into law as soon as possible.