Time not ripe for National Security Law revision: ULD¡¯s Kim

Rep. Kim Chong-Hoh, acting president of the United Liberal Democrats (ULD), proposed Thursday the establishment of a "political renovation committee¡¯¡¯ under the National Assembly speaker, made up of political party representatives and experts from various areas. The goal of the panel would be to reform national politics, he said.

Kim also recommended the discontinuation of the existing "political reform committee¡¯¡¯ under the National Assembly.

Delivering a keynote speech as the representative of the ruling coalition party in a National Assembly plenary session, he also said the current small constituency system, which he described as a cause of regional divisions, should be replaced with the grand electorate formula.

As concrete measures for political reform, the acting ULD head called for the introduction of a complete public management system for elections, abolition of local chapters of political parties, downsizing of parties` central headquarters and a review of elections for the heads of small local autonomous units like metropolitan cities, wards, counties and small cities.

He also suggested the introduction of a recall system for lawmakers and an overhaul of the current class structure in the administration of metropolitan cities, provincial cities, counties, wards and "dong" (the smallest administrative unit).

Referring to the government¡¯s engagement policy toward North Korea, Kim stressed the principle of reciprocity in promoting inter-Korean cooperation, pointing out that there is opposition to what is seen as the government¡¯s tendency to concede too much to the North Koreans. The government should refrain from offering unilateral aid to the North beyond its capability, he said.

Kim also warned of a move among some ruling camp members to promote the conclusion of an inter-Korean peace treaty during the proposed visit to Seoul of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. He called for a cautious approach to the issue of replacing the existing armistice agreement with a peace pact.

As for the revision of the National Security Law, Kim said the time is not yet ripe. He added that collective action by labor unions should not stray outside the law.

He proposed the ruling and opposition parties to shelve efforts to revise a law on the compulsory employment of workers in cases of corporate mergers and acquisitions. Kim also called for changes to the Labor Standard Law for the reduction of working hours and a law related to the protection of maternity leave.

Commenting on the ongoing tax audit of media firms, Kim said that newspaper and broadcasting companies couldn¡¯t be an exception to such probes. He added however the investigation should not infringe upon freedom of the press or frustrate the activities of local news outlets.