Beginning of 18th National Assembly

The 18th National Assembly opens on Friday. The Grand National Party has 153 out of the 299 seats in the National Assembly, forming a ruling camp-dominant parliament. Conservatives are expected to have a greater influence in the parliament. The liberal-dominated 17th National Assembly, which opened in 2004 when the attempt for presidential impeachment by the then opposition camp backfired, came to the end of its term on Thursday. The 17th National Assembly, engaged in fierce arguments over the ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. The photo shows the lawmakers’ hall in which staff members are busy moving.

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