Tensions run high at South Korea's parliament sit-in

By Channel NewsAsia's Korea Bureau Chief Lim Yun Suk
Posted: 31 December 2008 1954 hrs

SEOUL: South Korea's parliament remained paralysed on Wednesday, with rival parties failing to agree on what to do with several controversial bills.

The opposition has camped in the main parliamentary chamber since last Friday to prevent the ruling party from passing the bills unilaterally. Riot police are presently on standby to force them out.

Among some 80 bills that need to be passed, two are considered especially contentious.

During the last few days, thousands of union workers from South Korea's major television networks have been out in the streets, protesting a media bill which would allow South Korea's newspapers and conglomerates to get into the television business.

Demonstrators said this would curb independence of the media and allow one or two big players to dominate public opinion.

Photo: 1 day ago: Members of the opposition Democratic Party sleep as they set up barricades of furniture in front of the main hall of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008. The parliament speaker ordered opposition lawmakers camped out inside the National Assembly to end their five-day protest, warning Tuesday he would send in guards to force them out if they refused to leave.

Choi Sang Jae, head, National Union of Media Workers, said: "We're on strike to defend democracy and to expose the dangers of this evil media bill which the ruling Grand National Party wants to pass."

The ruling party said the new media bill is necessary because of changing times and technologies, while the opposition party is on the broadcasters' side.

The ruling Grand National Party holds 172 seats in the 299-member National Assembly, compared with 82 seats for the opposition Democratic Party.

Another controversial bill is the free trade agreement signed between the United States and South Korea.

The ruling party is eager to get it ratified as soon as possible, while the opposition wants to hold off until US president-elect Barack Obama takes office in January.

Many South Koreans are turned off by the long-running stalemate and said they believe there will be more fights and ugly scenes inside the National Assembly over future bills.

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Tensions run high at South Korea's parliament sit-in
World - 31 December 2008

- CNA/so