Ruling party pushes controversial reforms despite opposition

SEOUL, July 14 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak's ruling conservative party on
Tuesday moved to unilaterally put to vote controversial bills on media and labor
regulations despite escalating opposition from rival parties.
The floor leader of the Grand National Party (GNP) officially asked parliamentary
speaker Kim Hyong-o, a former ruling party member, to invoke his authority and
call a vote on the disputed bills. The GNP controls 169 seats in the 299-member
unicameral house, enough to pass the bills on their own.
President Lee, a former CEO and outspoken advocate of market principles, has
sought to amend regulations on media cross-ownership and non-regular workers
since his inauguration in February last year. Lee believes such moves will spur
competition and help the nation's industries catch up with global standards.
"We have no other means but to rely on your authority to tackle the current
deadlock. We need those bills settled within this parliamentary session," GNP
floor leader Ahn Sang-soo told the Assembly speaker.
Kim did not comment on the request.
Ending a six-week-long boycott of the parliament, the main opposition Democratic
Party (DP) returned to discussions with its rival this week over the
controversial bills.
But Assembly committee sessions remained closed Tuesday as DP legislators
continued to block the entrances of committee rooms in an effort to prevent the
ruling party from railroading the bills.
The DP, which controls 84 seats in the legislature, began the boycott on June 1.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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