Opposition party shifts focus to National Assembly from street

The main opposition Democratic Party is inevitably shifting its center of gravity to activities within the National Assembly in the wake of an incident of massive magnitude: an incumbent lawmaker’s alleged masterminding of rebellion conspiracy. With public opinion towards its street rallies negative already, the party worries that if it wastes more time and fails to regain momentum, it could get entangled in controversy over its allegedly pro-North Korean stance.

The Democratic Party decided on Friday that while Chairman Kim Han-gil continues street sit-in protests, its lawmakers would keenly participate in activities of the regular session of the National Assembly starting with attending at Monday`s session. As for conditions for its participation in the regular assembly session, however, the party plans to hold more consultations with the ruling Saenuri Party.

The Democratic Policy Institute, the party’s think tank, publicized the results of its own public survey at a workshop of its lawmakers held Thursday at the National Assembly to prepare for the regular National Assembly session. As many as 61.9 percent of the respondents in the survey reportedly said “They are opposed to off-National Assembly protests.”

“The National Assembly is the best site for struggle that is granted only to parliamentarians,” Chairman Kim said, stressing that “The Party should never give up or boycott the National Assembly.“ Some hardline lawmakers demand that the party step up protests off the National Assembly, but Kim flatly denied the demand, saying, “I wish the best of success and luck to you, who will work at the National Assembly.”

Additionally, the Democratic Party is striving to distance itself from the Unified Progressive Party. At a meeting of the supreme council members held at the party’s makeshift tent headquarters at Seoul Plaza on Friday, Kim said, “The Democratic Party will separately deal with the National Intelligence Service’s illegal interference in the presidential election, and the (Unified Progressive Party’s) alleged rebellion conspiracy.” The measure is interpreted as the party’s bid to prevent any potential ramifications that the Unified Progressive Party fiasco could spawn.