Democratic Labor Party blocks FTA vote

Posted on : 2008-02-12 14:47 KST Modified on : 2008-02-12 14:47 KST
Lawmakers occupied parliamentary committee chief’s office, denying him entry

Lawmakers of the progressive, opposition Democratic Labor Party blocked a parliamentary committee meeting to vote on a free trade agreement with the United States, dimming prospects the ratification of the deal in the National Assembly’s extraordinary session this month.

South Korea and the United States signed the accord in June 2007 after nearly a year of sometimes acrimonious negotiations to lower or eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers on goods and services. The agreement must be ratified by the legislatures of both countries before it goes into effect. The South Korean government submitted the deal to the National Assembly in September last year for approval, while the United States has yet to put it to a congressional vote.

The parliamentary committee for unification, foreign affairs and trade was scheduled to convene the meeting at 10:00 a.m. on February 11, but eight DLP lawmakers occupied the office of the committee chief, Rep. Kim Won-wung, and then they blocked Kim from entering the office to hold the meeting. The committee now plans to hold the meeting on February 13.

As the meeting to vote on the free trade pact with the United States has fallen through, Rep. Ahn Sang-soo, the floor leader of the Grand National Party, said, “The National Assembly is in a state of paralysis. United New Democratic Party leader Sohn Hak-kyu had claimed he would vote for the deal, but is now going back on his word.” However, the majority United New Democratic Party says there is no reason to vote on the deal ahead of legislative approval in the United States, making it difficult for the National Assembly to agree to vote on the deal in February.

Rep. Choi Jae-seong, a spokesman for the UNDP, said, “While our party’s basic stance is to support the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, there are many in the party who would prefer to deal with it after the U.S. government submits the deal to Congress for approval. If the U.S. Congress were to vote against it or demand renegotiation after South Korea gave its approval, it would cause problems,” Choi said.

Labor and civic organizations have waged an all-out battle to demand that the National Assembly vote against the deal, by planning a massive rally in downtown Seoul and forging an alliance with U.S. labor groups.

On the same day, Lee Suk-haeng, the leader of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the nation’s two umbrella labor organizations, left for the United States to seek cooperation with American labor organizations in thwarting the passage of the deal. During his visit, Lee plans to meet with Democratic Rep. Sander M. Levin, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, and other U.S. lawmakers to call on them to vote against the deal. On February 14, Lee also plans to meet with John Sweeney, the president of the AFL-CIO, the largest labor federation in the United States, and Anna Burger, the chair of the Change to Win Federation, another U.S. labor federation.

The Korean Alliance Against the Korea-U.S. FTA, an organization comprised of some 300 civic groups, held a press conference in front of the National Assembly complex. “We oppose the National Assembly vote on the free trade deal with the U.S. A public hearing, a parliamentary hearing and a parliamentary investigation should proceed swiftly,” the organization said. On February 14, the organization plans to hold a massive rally near the National Assembly complex as the parliamentary committee prepares to vote on the deal.




Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

Most viewed articles