Parliament Urged to Do Best to Fulfill
Public Expectations
- Speaker Kim for legislature becoming center of politics and legislative activity

National Assembly Speaker Kim Won-ki said the 17th National Assembly currently is in its 252nd temporary session after winding up a 7-month long its first plenary session at the end of last month. The new legislature started its first session amid high expectations of the people, but has not been able to live up to the expectations on many accounts, except that it was significant in itself, he said. He said he can only say that they will do their best to live up to public expectations from the temporary setting, which began from Feb.1.
At a special lecture session on national policy course provided by the Graduate School of Administration of Seoul National University Feb.4 at Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul, the parliamentary leader said he will look back on achievements and future tasks for the 17th National Assembly as one who got engaged in politics for over 30 years.
He pointed out three major failings of the Korean politics; One is a boss politics dominated by bosses; Second is regional politics; Third, high costs and the ensuing political corruption.
He said the situation has changed dramatically following the last general and presidential elections.
First, the president declared the separation of the ruling party and the government, not meddling in politics including personnel matters of the ruling party. The move changed the past practice of the president as chairman of the ruling party dominated party affairs including the nomination of legislative candidates, putting an end to boss politics.
Under the situation, the ruling Uri Party selected legislative candidates in the primary elections, following open screenings of the candidates. The major opposition Grand National Party also selected its parliamentary candidates in the open based on strict screenings.
Second, chances to do away with regional politics were created, with the establishment of the Uri Party as its beginning.
Third, both ruling and opposition parties got together and agreed on a number of agreements including laws on politics, political parties and political funds in March last year just prior to the general elections providing a base to clean up politics.
The speaker said these were revolutionary moves compared to past practices.
On special characteristics and changes brought by the 17th National Assembly, Kim said the new legislators knew that they were standing on a new soil, full of public expectations for changes and they made many changes. Most of all, the 17th assembly enjoys its stature and rights more than any other legislature that functioned before them. It is without outside meddling or control. Its independence and self-rule have been guaranteed under the principles of the independence of three government branches.
The new legislature has seen around 50 legislator groups to discuss various current issues, up about 20 percent from its predecessor.
The speaker, however, admitted that the new legislature failed to meet public expectations, despite such positive changes. Standoff between ruling and opposition parties over the prime minister's remark on the opposition Grand National Party.
He said there are a number of ways to solve the problem. One is mutual respect, recognizing other legislators as bona fide parliamentarians. The ruling party should respect the opposition minor parties, although it became a majority party. Another is accepting changes. He said there are ideological conflicts, which are very late in coming in this day and age. The world has overcome the left and right conflict and is headed toward a third road where competition and cooperation go together.
He said the problems facing the political world not ideological conflict but accepting changes. This is an age where those who don't change would lose and disappear. They should not refuse changes, although there can be differences on timing and procedures.
He called on the 17th National Assembly to become the center of politics in the country by making critical political and legislative decisions by itself as its independence and rights are guaranteed. nw