Uri Party Passes Bills Without GNP

On December 27, the ruling Uri Party passed follow-up measures aimed at curbing real estate speculation and bills related to taxation policies to be implemented beginning next year in the Finance and Economy Committee under the National Assembly, despite the absence of the Grand National Party (GNP).

The meeting was chaired by Uri Party Rep. Song Young-kil as head of the committee Park Jong-keun, a member of the GNP, rejected to preside over it. The presence of members of minority parties including Democratic Party Rep. Kim Hyo-seok and National Center Party (tentatively named) Rep. Shin Kook-hwan helped meet the quorum required to pass the bills. All of the GNP lawmakers as well as Democratic Labor Party Rep. Shim Sang-jeong didn’t attend the meeting.

In a statement released under the name of Lee Hye-hoon, head of the GNP’s third policy coordination committee, the main opposition GNP accused the ruling party of passing the bills without due deliberation.

Rep. Lee noted, “The Uri Party’s passage of the bills without the presence of GNP members is an outrageous act which disregards the constitution and the public,” adding, “In particular, the ruling party should be blamed for including the provision on taxation by household, which could challenge the constitution, in the comprehensive real estate bill, and raising special excise taxes on LNG which could have an immediate impact on lives of middle and low income families.”

In-Jik Cho cij1999@donga.com