Pro-Japanese Activities Investigation Act on Collision Course

On September 8, the Administration and Local Autonomy Committee of the National Assembly held a general meeting to discuss the proposal of a “revision bill on Pro-Japanese Activities Investigation Act” to the National Assembly, but the gathering was deadlocked until the late afternoon due to the standoff between the pro-Roh Uri Party and the major opposition party Grand National Party (GNP).

Members of the GNP strongly opposed presenting the revised bill on the grounds that it was not included in the day’s agenda.

A GNP member Kim Gi-choon said, “Revising a bill which was passed in the 16th regular session with 270 votes without even implementing it is tantamount to performing plastic surgery on a fetus,” and suggested they improve on the act after its implementation.

The Uri Party members, however, insisted on introducing the bill, saying, “It is outrageous to stop even bringing up the revised bill, proposed earlier by 170 lawmakers, to the standing committee in charge.”

The Uri Party attempted to propose the bill by submitting a “Motion on Agenda Change” as the GNP took issue with the revision bill not being on the agenda, but failed due to GNP members’ opposition.

Young-Hae Choi yhchoi65@donga.com