By Jun Ji-hye
Rep. Kim Han-gil, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), said Wednesday that his party opposes unification where the South absorbs the North resulting from the scenario of an abrupt collapse of the Stalinist regime.
The DP thinks unification should be achieved in a “gradual and peaceful” manner. To that extent, he called for setting up a body composed of representatives of political parties, the government and civic groups to lead national discussion about preparing for unification.
“I propose establishing a pan-national preparatory committee to set up non-partisan, effective measures for peaceful unification, so that they can remain unaltered regardless of the change of government,” said Kim during a speech at a plenary session of the National Assembly.
There are those within the opposition speculating that the conservative government is bracing for unification by absorption, citing President Park Geun-hye’s recent repeated unification rhetoric amid recent uncertainties in the North following the sudden execution of No. 2 man Jang Song-thaek.
The DP insists that reciprocity between the two Koreas is the most ideal approach to unification.
The opposition bloc has in the past suggested the creation of two governments or a two-party coalition on the Korean Peninsula.
Citing the unification of Germany as a successful case, the opposition leader said his proposed unification body should strive for a national consensus in shaping policies.
Kim claimed President Park’s recent comparison of hitting the jackpot could create a misleading fantasy about imminent unification.
“Her emphasis on unification without efforts to improve inter-Korean relations could result in the wrong impression to the public that the fall of Pyongyang is imminent,” he said.
In explaining the reason for the DP’s opposition to unification by absorption, the chairman said such an approach would bring about tremendous turmoil, and the nation would have to pay enormous costs to resolve that situation if it happened.
With regard to measures to reform the nation’s political culture, the fourth-term lawmaker called on the ruling Saenuri Party to agree to abolish lawmakers’ immunity from arrest and the privilege of exemption from liability for speeches they make in the Assembly.
“Bipartisan efforts are essential to implement such a measure as a Constitutional revision is necessary for that task,” he said.
Kim added that the DP will also push for changes to prohibit the succession to seats of proportional representatives if they are unseated due to corruption.
Other suggestions included pushing for conducting a parliamentary audit and inspection whenever parties see the necessity, lowering the voting age to 18 from the current 19, and extending voting time by two hours.
Kim’s speech came two days after he announced the DP’s measures to abolish privileges of lawmakers, including introducing a lawmaker recall system under which voters can vote to unseat corrupt legislators.
These latest series of reform measures from the largest opposition party are seen as desperate attempts to hold independent lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo in check ahead of the June 4 local elections.
Ahn, who is promoting new politics, has promised to launch a new party by the end of March.