By Park Moo-jong
Everybody agrees that the upcoming April 15 general election is a crucial national event to herald what the Republic of Korea, now beleaguered with piles of difficult questions, including an economic downturn, will be like in the future.
With less than two months until polling day, it is no wonder that all the political parties, either existing or newly created, are going all-out to win the support of voters with rosy campaign pledges that they claim will help better the livelihoods of the people ― among other promises.
On Wednesday morning, I read an "old-fashioned" but "still interesting" news story on page 2 of The Korea Times.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), according to the article, "has vowed to slash the salary of lawmakers with poor session attendance records amid mounting criticism of the unproductive Assembly."
"However, it remains to be seen if the pledge will be implemented as planned because it contains some exception clauses that lawmakers may exploit," it said.
The ruling party's pledge is based on the principle of "no work, no pay," a general truth in industrial relations. Namely, when a person is employed, it is expected that the work assigned will be carried out and when this work is not done, the employee is not eligible for payment of any salary.
The "no work, no pay" formula lays a strong foundation for industrial peace and harmony in the long run. Even die-hard trade union leaders respect this principle of equity and natural justice.
Basically, the principle means no pay for workers on strike. Instead, the unions have to pay their striking workers with money savedfor their walkout.
Unfortunately however, the principle has nothing to do with our "extinguished" lawmakers, to the humiliation of the growing public calls and their repeated promises to accept it in bygone days.
Most citizens feel bad about the astronomical expenses they have to pay for the 300 legislators per year. At least 150 million won (about $125,000) is paid to one lawmaker, as well as various privileges such as free rides on the KTX, among other things.
What the people remember about the incumbent Assembly is the frequent paralysis of its operation following all-or-nothing bipartisan disputes over various issues related to their interests.
Boycotting plenary or standing committees sessions used to be a common practice of the parties, especially the minority ones.
Our parliamentary history shows that elected politicians have been mainly engaged in an all-or-nothing struggle against their rivals to further their own interests, without agonizing over the stark reality we Koreans face every day.
It must be like preaching to the wind to tell them to think of the public happiness and national interest ahead of they and their parties' interests.
The only thing on their minds now seems to be how to win again in the coming election and how to chalk up more money for campaigning.
A lawmaker takes office, vowing "to carry out the duty of representatives faithfully in accordance with my conscience, placing top priority on the promotion of the people's happiness and the national interest."
The shameless appearance of the representatives even makes many people seriously question the need for parliamentarians in this country who think of their interests first, wasting the taxpayers' money.
The ruling DPK's pledge features the idea of cutting lawmakers' monthly salary in proportion to their absence from Assembly sessions which they are required to (not have to) attend. The opposition parties have also presented similar pledges.
The "no work, no pay" rule is strictly applied to cut the salary of legislators in accordance with the days of their absence in parliamentary sessions in France, Belgium, Portugal and Sweden. In France and Portugal, those who are absent from standing committee meetings three times are disqualified as their panel members.
Many people still doubt the election pledge in light of the hitherto practices. As The Korea Times reported, people suspect the overture is nothing but an attempt to curry favor with voters.
If the parties have the will to observe the "no work, no pay" principle, they have to rather show their determination through new legislation to that effect. The people are really sick of the National Assembly, but they still have to elect its new members April 15.
Park Moo-jong (emjei29@gmail.com) is a standing adviser of The Korea Times. He served as the president-publisher of the nation's first English daily newspaper from 2004 to 2014 after working as a reporter since 1974.
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With less than two months until polling day, it is no wonder that all the political parties, either existing or newly created, are going all-out to win the support of voters with rosy campaign pledges that they claim will help better the livelihoods of the people ― among other promises.
On Wednesday morning, I read an "old-fashioned" but "still interesting" news story on page 2 of The Korea Times.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), according to the article, "has vowed to slash the salary of lawmakers with poor session attendance records amid mounting criticism of the unproductive Assembly."
"However, it remains to be seen if the pledge will be implemented as planned because it contains some exception clauses that lawmakers may exploit," it said.
The ruling party's pledge is based on the principle of "no work, no pay," a general truth in industrial relations. Namely, when a person is employed, it is expected that the work assigned will be carried out and when this work is not done, the employee is not eligible for payment of any salary.
The "no work, no pay" formula lays a strong foundation for industrial peace and harmony in the long run. Even die-hard trade union leaders respect this principle of equity and natural justice.
Basically, the principle means no pay for workers on strike. Instead, the unions have to pay their striking workers with money savedfor their walkout.
Unfortunately however, the principle has nothing to do with our "extinguished" lawmakers, to the humiliation of the growing public calls and their repeated promises to accept it in bygone days.
Most citizens feel bad about the astronomical expenses they have to pay for the 300 legislators per year. At least 150 million won (about $125,000) is paid to one lawmaker, as well as various privileges such as free rides on the KTX, among other things.
What the people remember about the incumbent Assembly is the frequent paralysis of its operation following all-or-nothing bipartisan disputes over various issues related to their interests.
Boycotting plenary or standing committees sessions used to be a common practice of the parties, especially the minority ones.
Our parliamentary history shows that elected politicians have been mainly engaged in an all-or-nothing struggle against their rivals to further their own interests, without agonizing over the stark reality we Koreans face every day.
It must be like preaching to the wind to tell them to think of the public happiness and national interest ahead of they and their parties' interests.
The only thing on their minds now seems to be how to win again in the coming election and how to chalk up more money for campaigning.
A lawmaker takes office, vowing "to carry out the duty of representatives faithfully in accordance with my conscience, placing top priority on the promotion of the people's happiness and the national interest."
The shameless appearance of the representatives even makes many people seriously question the need for parliamentarians in this country who think of their interests first, wasting the taxpayers' money.
The ruling DPK's pledge features the idea of cutting lawmakers' monthly salary in proportion to their absence from Assembly sessions which they are required to (not have to) attend. The opposition parties have also presented similar pledges.
The "no work, no pay" rule is strictly applied to cut the salary of legislators in accordance with the days of their absence in parliamentary sessions in France, Belgium, Portugal and Sweden. In France and Portugal, those who are absent from standing committee meetings three times are disqualified as their panel members.
Many people still doubt the election pledge in light of the hitherto practices. As The Korea Times reported, people suspect the overture is nothing but an attempt to curry favor with voters.
If the parties have the will to observe the "no work, no pay" principle, they have to rather show their determination through new legislation to that effect. The people are really sick of the National Assembly, but they still have to elect its new members April 15.
Park Moo-jong (emjei29@gmail.com) is a standing adviser of The Korea Times. He served as the president-publisher of the nation's first English daily newspaper from 2004 to 2014 after working as a reporter since 1974.
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