[Opinion] Questions and Answers in Parliament

Parliamentary answer and question sessions have long lost its appeal to the public. Instead of debating key national issues, there have been political hassles and bickering. Lawmakers, knowing they have immunities, waste no time launching smear campaigns. They often talk about the same subjects already handled by government audit and standing committee meetings. During sessions, lawmakers from rival parties shout at each other or even call names, making it impossible to continue the sessions. Top government officials, on their part, just keep saying something like ‘we will look into the issue carefully.”

▷That’s why the controversy over grilling sessions persists. Many, however, argue that the parliamentary grilling is an integral part of the checks and balances system in the country where power is mostly concentrated on the President and his government. Some issues, in nature, are better fit to discussions in question and answer sessions rather than standing committee meetings. Those issues include presenting long-term government visions and tapping into public sentiments. Yet, everyone agrees on that the Parliament needs to overhaul the grilling session system to effectively prevent lawmakers from indulging in political bickering.

▷ National Assembly Speaker Park Gwang-yong said earlier when he took office that he would strive to change the way questions and answers are made. He proposed that each lawmaker have 20 minutes for a one-to-one discussion with top officials, instead of having 15 minutes in a group discussion in which some 10 lawmakers ask questions and then officials answer. He has made the proposal to floor leaders of parties. The proposed idea, which was already adopted in such countries as England and Japan, will turn the National Assembly into a venue for dynamic and productive discussions. And national issues will be dealt with in depth.

▷ For lawmakers to be prepared for one-to-one discussions with officials, they must have deep knowledge and understanding about what is going on. If they have little knowledge, it will reveal. They will no longer able to repeat what their assistants wrote in advance. Then they will increasingly become eager to reach the public to get thoroughly prepared. With the system in place, we can expect both lawmakers and top government officials to work harder. And we hope that the initiative this time will not end up being another futile attempt.

Song Young-eon, Editorial Writer youngeon@donga.com