Opposition parties urge Speaker Park to resign

By Chung Min-uck

The opposition parties called on National Assembly speaker Park Hee-tae to immediately step down from his post Wednesday to take responsibility for the cash-for-votes scandal.

The Democratic United Party (DUP) submitted a related bill to the Assembly urging Park’s resignation with signatures from 88 DUP lawmakers.

The six-term-lawmaker said he will not run in the April general election, and will take due steps according to the result of the ongoing prosecution investigation.

“The incident is not something that can be covered just by not seeking reelection in the general election,”said the DUP in a statement. “Park should apologize to the people and immediately resign.”

The minor opposition Unified Progressive Party (UPP) also ratcheted up its attack against Park.

“The right choice as an Assembly speaker is to tell the truth and step down from the post right away,”said UPP spokesman Roh Hoi-chan.

The two liberal parties are seeking to form a united front ahead of the general election to take on the Grand National Party (GNP).

Meanwhile, the DUP held a Supreme Council meeting in Busan.

“Busan is considered a stronghold of the GNP. But I believe the late former President Roh Moo-hyun followers who are at the forefront of breaking down regionalism will change that,”said Han Myeong-sook, the party’s newly elected chairwoman.

Recently, DUP political heavyweights such as Roh Moo-hyun Foundation chairman Moon Jae-in announced their parliamentary candidacy in the port city.

Former party leader and presidential hopeful Chung Dong-young declared his parliamentary bid in southern Seoul region, which is also considered a stronghold of the GNP.

The DUP will start talks with the GNP on Park’s resignation as Park Geun-hye, chairwoman of the GNP’s interim emergency committee, agreed on a swift investigation into the money-for-votes scandal while urging both parties’ floor leaders to resolve the case as soon as possible.