LKP goes all out to block reform bills

Lawmakers and the leadership body of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party hold signs criticizing the fast-track agreement on bills among four political parties during an emergency party meeting at the National Assembly, Tuesday. Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) vowed Tuesday to boycott all National Assembly sessions after the four other main parties agreed a day earlier to fast-track bills on electoral reform and the establishment of a new investigative body.

LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn blasted what he called “political collusion,” saying it will affect the results of the 2020 general election and ultimately may extend “leftist rule.”

“It is clear the reason behind why the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is trying to fast-track bills. As LKP floor leader Rep. Na Kyung-won mentioned, it is a red herring to distract people's anger at and objections to the government after its failures in the economy and national security,” Hwang said during an emergency party meeting.

While condemning the new investigative body as a means to target opposition lawmakers and public officials opposed to the current government, Hwang vowed to take every possible measure to protest the current administration.

“If it is necessary, I will hold a street protest or a sit-in protest in front of Cheong Wa Dae,” he said.

Party lawmakers pledged to begin sit-in protests at the Assembly from Tuesday and to hold another massive rally in downtown Seoul, Saturday.

The move came after the ruling DPK and three opposition parties agreed to fast-track the reform bills. Fast-tracking bills prevents them from being held up in the Assembly for too long after failing to win bipartisan support.

Under the agreement, the new investigative body will look into corruption allegations connected to high-ranking officials, request courts to issue warrants and file objections with the courts over prosecution decisions not to file charges. It also will be able to file charges against judges, prosecutors and high-ranking police officers.

The parties also agreed to pass a bill on redrawing electoral precincts and increase the number of proportional representatives to 75 from 47. As of Tuesday, the DPK holds 128 National Assembly seats out of 300, while the LKP hold 114; the Bareunmirae Party (BMP), 29; the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP), 14; and the Justice Party, six.

According to the Assembly Law, fast-tracked bills should be reviewed by the related standing committees within 180 days. If this is not done, the bills will be given another 90 days to be reviewed by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. If the committee does not do this, the bills will automatically be put to a vote within 60 days in an Assembly session. This process takes at least 330 days but can be reduced if parties agree to advance the bills.

Following months-long discussions due to differences on the scope of authority to be given to the investigative unit and number of proportional representatives, five parties ― including the LKP ― had agreed in December in principle to pass the electoral reform bill under the leadership of Rep. Kim Sung-tae, then floor leader of the LKP. However, the main conservative party reversed its stance after Rep. Na Kyung-won took office later that month.

Adding to the LKP's opposition, political parties are expected to face a bumpy road ahead until the bills are passed.

Na also criticized Moon and senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Cho Kuk for what she called orchestrating the agreement to fast-track the bills, saying the parties had given up on parliamentary democracy.

“I think the parties' move is de facto imposing the death penalty on parliamentary democracy.”

Meanwhile, the DPK, BMP, PDP and Justice Party approved the bills to be fast-tracked during their party general meetings. However, the BMP made the decision in a neck-and-neck vote, sparking internal strife between two factions. As more than two-thirds of party members didn't participate in the internal vote, the BMP's decision on the bills remains an unofficial one.

Following the BMP's move, Rep. Lee Un-ju announced she would quit the party.

Cho, meanwhile, welcomed the four parties' move and criticized the LKP's attempts to oppose the agreement.

Citing that the fast-tracking of bills was made under the leadership of Park Geun-hye, then emergency head of the Saenuri Party (the forerunner of the LKP) in 2012, Cho said “After fast-tracking bills, the proposals can be revised through discussions between the parties. Making and revising laws should be respected based on parliamentary democracy and the rule of law.”