Opposing Party “Preventing Snatched-up Fair Trade Laws Physically”

The Uri Party and the Grand National Party (GNP) are in conflict concerning the Fair Trade Commission’s revised fair trade law, which has the revival of the right to demand information on financial transactions (right to track financial transactions) and maintenance of a system to limit the amount of investment as its main outline.

The Uri Party tried to pass the fair trade law at 4 p.m. on September 16 by summoning the National Policy Committee in the National Policy Committee conference room on the fifth floor of the National Assembly, but the GNP said it could not allow such a “snatched-up” bill to pass and reacted by occupying National Policy Committee Chairman Kim Hee-sun’s chair and prevented the start of the committee meeting.

Grand National Party Members Occupy the Platform—

Rep. Yoo Seung-min of the GNP, exercised force and occupied Chairman Kim’s seat at 3:40 p.m., 20 minutes before the National Policy Committee opened, to prevent the approval of the bill.

Nam Kyoung-pil, Kim Jung-hoon, Na Kyoung-won, Lee Gyae-gyoung, and others, also GNP members, took positions next to Chairman Kim’s seat and prevented the direction of the assembly.

The GNP’s Rep. Nam Kyoung-pil declared, “A snatched-up approval without the consultation of both the ruling and the opposition parties is an abandonment of democracy,” and added, “To stop this from happening, we can not permit the assembly to continue.”

The GNP’s Rep. Kim Jung-hoon held up a chart with examples of the Fair Trade Commission’s illegal tracking of financial transactions and said, “Examining the Fair Trade Commission’s financial transaction tracking data, it was revealed that it had been practicing on many unspecified people,” and also added, “The approval of the bill can wait until after a thorough investigation of the matter at the National Assembly’s Inspection.”

Subsequently, the Uri Party’s Rep. Mun Hak-jin protested by saying, “Was the National Policy Committee chairman replaced, why is there someone else sitting in her place?”

Uri Party Aims to Enforce Approval—

As the GNP members occupied the National Policy Committee chairman’s seat, Uri Party members and Chairman Kim gathered in the room and took their seats at 4:10 p.m.

However, because Rep. Yoo would not give up the chair and with the GNP members surrounding the platform, Chairman Kim could not call the assembly to order.

Chairman Kim replied, “How can we hold a public hearing in this situation? The government submitted the bill to the National Assembly on June 23, but the GNP did not attend the assembly until now, and it is not reasonable to demand a postponement.”

But both parties held their ground without any further physical clashes.

Meanwhile leaders of both parties held a heated collision outside. Uri Party floor leader Cheon Jung-bae said, “As there is risk of increasing uncertainty in the market, if the approval of the bill is delayed, we will approve it even if we have to submit it to a vote.” On the other hand, Grand National Party floor leader Kim Deok-ryong warned, “If the ruling party pushes by force without sufficient discussion, we will respond firmly. The annual National Assembly may end up in a disaster.”

Young-Hae Choi yhchoi65@donga.com