Ruling party vows to end talks on media reform by Tuesday morning

SEOUL, July 20 (Yonhap) -- The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) said Monday it
is determined to conclude negotiations with the main opposition Democratic Party
(DP) on disputed media reform bills by Tuesday morning.
"I'm determined to finish all negotiations today. Depending on the circumstances,
everything will be determined by tomorrow morning," GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo
was quoted by his spokesman as saying.
Ahn and his DP counterpart, Lee Kang-rae, were reportedly meeting at an
undisclosed location for last-minute negotiations on a set of media industry
reform bills centered on lifting a ban on cross-ownership of print media and
television stations.
"I think my ongoing meeting with the DP floor leader is the last opportunity to
produce a compromise. I'm ready to engage in talks throughout the night," Ahn was
also quoted as saying.
Ahn's remarks were disclosed by his spokesman, Shin Sung-bum. Shin explained that
Ahn may have indicated his intention to ask Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o, a
former GNP lawmaker, to invoke his authority and call a vote on the bills unless
a compromise is reached by Tuesday morning.
The rival parties have been at odds over the media reform bills for over eight
months.
The conservative ruling party claims the reform bills would promote competition
in the media industry, whereas the DP argues the reform drive reflects a
conservative push to control the media and will only benefit the country's major
conservative newspapers.
The GNP is pressed for time, as the ongoing extraordinary parliamentary session
will end Saturday. The next regular session will open in September.
The GNP controls 169 seats in the 299-member unicameral house, enough to pass the
bills through voting. The DP, which holds 84 seats, has vowed to mobilize all
possible means to block the GNP from attempting to unilaterally put the bills to
a vote.
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