The confrontational situation between the ruling and opposition parties is reaching a climax as lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party occupied the plenary session hall of the National Assembly and staged a protest Friday. In response, the ruling Grand National Party, hit hard by the DP’s abrupt move, called on all of its lawmakers to stand by and be ready to pass the bills.

DP lawmakers locked themselves inside the hall, hoping to block the GNP from its previously stated intention to pass a series of bills by the end of the year.

For a vote to be taken in the National Assembly, the speaker is required to make a motion from his seat on the matter to be voted on, according to Article 110 of the National Assembly Act.

Unless National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o were to disperse the DP lawmakers by force, it will be difficult for the GNP to initiate and pass any of the bills on its agenda.

At around 8:45 a.m. Friday, DP lawmakers stormed into the plenary session hall, after holding a brief meeting in front of the National Assembly speaker’s room.

The DP says it will continue to occupy the National Assembly speaker’s office and the chambers of three parliamentary committees (culture and broadcasting, public administration and security, and state affairs).

In a statement, the DP lawmakers said, “President Lee Myung-bak and the GNP are already heading toward civic dictatorship by thoroughly denying the basic principles of parliamentary democracy such as dialogue and compromise and by turning the hall of the will of the people into a battlefield of greed. We will wage a do-or-die fight for the authority and constitutional value of the National Assembly.”

Lawmakers from the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party welcomed the DP's move and joined them in their occupation of the plenary session hall. DP Chairman Chung Se-kyun and DLP Chairman Kang Ki-gap held a meeting at the National Assembly that afternoon and forged an alliance.

GNP lawmakers strongly criticized the DP lawmakers for their actions and renewed their commitment to early passage of the contentious bills. In an emergency meeting, GNP floor leader Hong Joon-pyo said, “The DP is only hurting itself (just as it did during the impeachment of former President Roh Moo-hyun). Since DP lawmakers have occupied the plenary session hall, the timing (of the bills' passage) should be pushed up by several days. There is no time to adjust the speed,” Hong said. “Beginning today, all lawmakers need to stand by in Seoul.”

National Assembly Speaker Kim has not released any official response to the GNP’s statement. Lee Hyeong-seon, a press secretary for the speaker, said, “It’s difficult to talk about our position at the moment, so we have decided not to make a statement today.”

The conservative Liberty Forward Party says it opposes the forcible dispersal of the DP lawmakers and the GNP’s plan to pass the bills by the end of the year. In an interview with MBC radio, LFP Chairman Lee Hoi-chang said that it is “improper” for the GNP to try to pass the bills by the end of the year.

In a telephone interview with Yonhap News, LFP floor leader Kwon Seon-taek said, “If a plenary session is held after the DP lawmakers are dragged out of the plenary session hall, it will be difficult for the LFP to participate.”

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