Labor party head's acquittal draws conflicting response from parties

labor party leader-political reaction


By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's main political parties on Friday showed
starkly conflicting reactions towards the acquittal of the head of the minor
labor Democratic Labor Party (DLP), who had been charged with allegedly
obstructing duties at the National Assembly through aggressive behavior.

DLP chief Kang Ki-kab, who was indicted on charges of obstructing duties while
protesting a bill on the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement early last year,
was acquitted Thursday by a court in Seoul.
The farmer-turned-legislator was accused of throwing furniture in the office of
the National Assembly speaker, assaulting parliamentary security guards and using
foul language in his protest. The court ruled he was merely venting steam and
that he was entitled to "protest" as a party leader.
Chung Mong-joon, head of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), said during
meeting with party staffers that the people would have difficulty in
understanding the court's ruling.
"The court's decision seems to suggest that (Kang's action) was a form of just
protest, but most of the people will have a hard time comprehending (the
ruling)," Chung said.
The chairman also said that he is in favor of the prosecution's decision in
appealing the ruling, noting that "such confusion should be straightened out."
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP), meanwhile, expressed support for the
court decision, suggesting that the Kang's actions, amid the ruling party's
overwhelming voting power to ram through contested bills, weren't sufficient to
find him guilty.
"Kang was ruled not guilty. As DP's floor leader, I find this very important. GNP
has an absolute majority of seats inside the National Assembly and the president
is pushing through bills," Lee Kang-rae, DP floor leader, said during a meeting
with party leaders.
Throughout South Korea's political history, lawmakers have frequently resorted to
sit-in protests to block legislation. Violent clashes in parliament are not
unusual.
Amidst a series of sit-ins and other forms of physical protests by opposition
parties, the GNP has been seeking to reform the National Assembly law to penalize
those lawmakers who paralyze parliamentary proceedings by force.
Ahn Sang-soo, GNP floor leader, vowed in a meeting with the party leadership that
the GNP will work, through cooperation with opposition parties, to set up a
special committee to reform the legal system.
"For sometime, politically-biased rulings by some judges have reached a level of
concern to the people," Ahn said, explaining the need to set up the committee.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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