Park Geun-hye will vote against the Broadcasting Law revision

Posted on : 2009-07-20 11:40 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
DP Chairperson begins hunger fast to prevent the revision from passing and suggests dialogue with President Lee
 chairperson of the opposition Democratic Party
 chairperson of the opposition Democratic Party

Park Geun-hye, the former chairperson of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), announced Sunday that she will vote against the Broadcasting Law revision if the GNP presents it to a National Assembly plenary session. This statement has increased speculation on whether GNP heads will continue in their attempt to pass the revision bill related to broadcasting. Meanwhile, Chung Sye-kyun, the chairperson of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), began his hunger after suggesting dialogue between himself and President Lee Myung-bak at the National Assembly.

According to a pro-Park Geun-hye lawmaker, former Chairperson Park said, “If I participate in the plenary session, I will vote against the revision.” In response to this comment, GNP Floor Leader Ahn Sang-soo said at a press conference,“Former Chairperson Park is not participating in this press conference, however, I have heard that she will participate in the plenary session.”

The pro-Park lawmaker who had a conversation with Park via telephone said, “She has not confirmed whether she will participate in the plenary session or not.”

GNP Lawmaker Hong Sa-deuk, another pro-Park lawmaker, held a press conference with other pro-Park lawmakers and said, “Park does not oppose the presentation of the revision by National Assembly Speaker, but she opposes the haste in presenting it when some time still remains for dialogue with opposition parties.”

In response, GNP Floor Leader Ahn said, “We will negotiate with the DP Monday because they have said they needed to review the bill once more.” Prior to this statement, Ahn had assumed a hard line and had said, “I will announce the end to the negotiations if the ruling and opposition parties have not reached an agreement by the midnight of July 19.”

Meanwhile, Chung who has begun his hunger fast, says, “This is the last chance we have to protect against the GNP’s unilateral behavior and to represent the will of the people to protect conservative newspapers from monopolozing the broadcasting companies.” Before embarking on his fast, he suggested dialogue with President Lee Myung-bak on the broadcasting law revision, however, the Cheong Wa Dae (the presidential office in South Korea or Blue House) rejected his suggestion by saying, “We have a pledge to the people to pass the revision of the Broadcasting Law during the July extraordinary session.”

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

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