By Jun Ji-hye
The parliament approved a revision to the National Assembly Law Tuesday that prohibits legislators holding extra jobs and using violence in the Assembly.
The revision was passed 234 to 1, with 7 abstentions, among a total of 242 lawmakers in attendance at the Assembly plenary session.
According to the new revision, which will become effective next year, legislators are not allowed to conduct commercial activities through holding other jobs.
“From next year, once elected as lawmakers, working as a professor, a CEO of an enterprise, and holding other specialized jobs such as doctor and lawyer are all prohibited,” said an Assembly official.
Also, if the Assembly Speaker rules that certain honorary nonprofit positions are not in the public interest, lawmakers will be unable to work in such positions.
Most of the rules apply to incumbent lawmakers in the 19th Assembly as well, but for those with professorships, they will be allowed to maintain a leave of absence.
“19th lawmakers who have worked as professors took a leave of absence following their election in accordance with the current law. Applying the new revision to them can be retroactive legislation. So, we decided to make an exception of their case,” said Rep. Jung Sung-ho, vice floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP).
Those who have worked as doctors or lawyers should quit their positions six months after the new revision takes effect, according to Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, vice floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party.
After finishing their term of office, lawmakers will be able to take up such positions.
Those who hold ministerial posts including the prime minister and those involved in property rental using their own real estate are categorized as exceptional cases, which will allow them to hold additional jobs.
The measures came because some legislators who hold extra jobs have been criticized for receiving high salaries from their extra jobs, even though they do not regularly work for institutes or universities.
In the meantime, the revision will also ban lawmakers from committing acts of violence in and around the conference hall.
If they physically hurt others or swing dangerous objects, they can be punished for “Crimes of Interference of Assembly Meeting,” which was newly established by the new revision.
If legislators incur a 5 million won ($4,400) fine or more, they will lose their parliamentary seats and be disqualified from running in elections for a maximum of 10 years.
However, critics say that the revisions are not sufficient because they did not touch on legislator’s privilege of immunity from arrest, or the privilege of exemption from libel for speeches given in the Assembly.