Parliament chief vows to take blame for passage of media bills

SEOUL, July 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's parliamentary leader said Sunday he is
ready to take full social responsibility for the recent passage of controversial
media bills, which opposition parties claim is invalid.
Defying an opposition boycott, President Lee Myung-bak's conservative Grand
National Party (GNP) railroaded the bills through Wednesday, including one
allowing large firms and major newspapers to own stakes in television networks.
National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o had invoked his authority to put those
bills to a parliamentary vote.
"I made the decision (to put the bills to a vote) based on what is best for the
nation's people and history, and have not changed my mind," Kim said in a rare
press release. "Such a decision is necessary when partisan negotiations fall out.
It is a democratic procedure."
"I am ready to take full social responsibility for the decision," he added.
President Lee, a former CEO and strong proponent of market principles, has sought
to amend the nation's media law since his inauguration in February last year,
claiming such a move would spur competition between media outlets and bolster
sectors he believes are falling behind global trends.
The previous media law, established in the 1980s, prohibited cross-ownership of
print media and television stations to prevent monopolies in the media industry.
Broadcasters and opposition parties call the plan pro-conglomerate because only
three right-leaning vernacular newspapers, which already control nearly 70
percent of print media circulation, are said to have the resources necessary to
enter the television industry.
The GNP, which controls 169 out of 299 seats in the unicameral legislature,
passed the bills Wednesday despite physical clashes with its main rival
Democratic Party (DP).
Opposition parties and media unionists argue the vote was invalid, citing
procedural violations. The DP filed a suit against the ruling party, claiming
some of the ballots were cast by legislators' assistants or colleagues.
Kim vowed thorough investigation into the accusation.
"If this allegation is true, it is unacceptable. I promise we will get to the
bottom of the issue."
The Assembly speaker added he will not accept resignations submitted by dozens of
opposition party lawmakers.
Some 70 legislators including Chung Sye-kyun, chief of the main opposition party,
offered to give up their seats earlier in the week, saying they are responsible
for failing to block the passage of the media reform bills.
The resignation of a lawmaker can only take effect through a parliamentary vote
or if the Assembly speaker accepts the offer.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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