By Kim Bo-eun
Lawmakers and civic groups are filing petitions for the National Assembly to be open to the public Friday when the vote to impeach President Park Geun-hye over her involvement in the influence-peddling scandal surrounding her confidant Choi Soon-sil is to be held.
Independent lawmakers Kim Jong-hoon and Yoon Jong-o started an online petition requesting Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun to allow citizens into the Assembly premises and to broadcast the vote live on the grounds around the building.
“The National Assembly does not belong to the lawmakers but to the citizens. Citizens have the right to watch the impeachment motion being put to a vote and passed at the Assembly,” they said Wednesday.
“The speaker must open the doors of the Assembly in order to let the people share their thoughts with the lawmakers.”
They said Chung told them he would consider it.
The organizers of the candlelit protests have also requested Chung open the Assembly grounds and buildings Thursday evening and from 1:30 p.m. Friday until the vote is over.
The group plans to hold debates, inviting citizens to express their opinions on the President’s impeachment, as well as performances.
“The people hold the power of the National Assembly, and its grounds also exist for the people to exercise their rights,” the organizers said in the letter to Chung.
“Korea is the only country among OCED member states which limits citizens’ approach to the Assembly,” they said.
They are collecting signatures from citizens online in support of the proposal.
Until now, the area in front of the Assembly building has only been permitted to be used for a president’s inauguration or for national events.
The group said even if its request to use the Assembly grounds is not accepted, it will still hold the debates in adjacent areas.
The organizers said their weekday rally, which has been held in Gwanghwamun, will be moved to Yeouido this week. They hosted a rally Wednesday evening in front of the ruling Saenuri Party headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul, calling for the party to vote for the impeachment. They plan to hold a march around the Assembly building today.
The route of the regular Saturday rally will be the same as last week _ protesters will march up to 100 meters from Cheong Wa Dae. The group said the rally will be held regardless of the outcome of the impeachment vote.