(Yonhap Interview) S. Korea pays 'steep price' for political altercations: Speaker Kim

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- Parliamentary Speaker Kim Hyung-o said Tuesday that the
country is paying a "steep price" for its fractious National Assembly, urging
political leaders to step up efforts to negotiate on contentious bills and rid
the chamber of violent confrontations.

"I hope to drive out violence out of the National Assembly this year. Party
leaders should be prepared to redouble their efforts to reach compromises. Some
(Assembly) members who do not understand the principles of democracy and who are
self-indulgent enough to spit out verbal abuse are polluting the parliament" Kim
said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency.
The speaker's remarks follow last month's partisan deadlock at the National
Assembly over the government's budget for this year, during which oppositions
staged sit-in protests inside the parliament's chambers to physically block the
passage of bills.
Throughout South Korea's history, lawmakers have frequently resorted to sit-in
protests to block legislation. Violent clashes in parliament are not unusual.
"As a person representing the National Assembly, I have mixed emotions (towards
extreme partisanship) ... China has found political stability after paying a very
steep price called the Cultural Revolution but South Korea's democracy is still
paying an expensive price following the country's democratization," Kim said.
Kim argued that law governing the National Assembly should be revised to remove
the speaker's authority to arbitrarily present bills for an immediate plenary
vote, suggesting that the parties themselves should push themselves harder to
debate and reach compromise on disputed bills.
Regarding the government's plan to revise a controversial administrative town
project, the speaker hoped that the plan will be "discussed further" before being
handed off to the National Assembly for approval.
Initiated by former President Roh Moo-hyun as an election campaign pledge in
2002, the Sejong City project calls for the construction of an administrative
town in South Chungcheong Province, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul, to house
nine ministries and four government agencies.
The Lee Myung-bak government in September announced that the project will be
revised due to concerns that the relocation could lead to government
inefficiency. The proposed revision met with fierce opposition by residents in
the Chungcheong Province, where the new town is located, as well as by all
opposition parties.
"The issue has brought about much turmoil in the National Assembly around this
time last year. I'm afraid a similar situation could reemerge if the government
delivers its plan to the National Assembly at this stage," Kim said.
Kim also reiterated his vision to amend the Constitution within the year,
describing the necessity of the move as a "call of the times."
"For the country to transform properly, the constitution must be revised ... the
people agree with a reform and a number of lawmakers sufficient to pass a
constitutional reform bill are also in favor of the revision." the speaker said.
Since the incoming of the current administration in February 2008, Kim has
proposed on an thorough overhaul of the Constitution, including a scheme to
replace the current five-year single-term presidency with a semi-presidential
system or a U.S.-style four-year presidency with a maximum two terms.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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