Lawmakers' dereliction of duty

Parties must not repeat errors revealed through 'Kindergarten 3 Laws'

The pathetic state of the country's legislature has been laid bare once again through the dysfunctional amendment process of the "Kindergarten 3 Laws." The relevant revision bills, which had been fast-tracked late last year, were passed over to the National Assembly's plenary session Tuesday without a single debate after being stuck in the Assembly's education and judiciary committees for 270 days. The ruling and opposition parties deserve harsh criticism for their dereliction of duty.

The revision bills will be put to a vote automatically in the first plenary session after Nov. 22. The parties began to discuss amending the three laws governing the operation of preschools after a state audit found widespread irregularities involving the use of taxpayer money by kindergarten operators last October. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) failed to narrow their differences over major contents, including accounting methods, and the bills were fast-tracked last Dec. 27 after LKP lawmakers walked out.

The rival parties blame each other for the absence of serious discussions over the bills. The ruling party claims the amendments were badly needed to enhance accounting transparency in preschools while the LKP argues that the laws would infringe upon "private property."

The reason fast-tracked bills are transferred to the plenary session after remaining with standing committees for up to 270 days is to ensure that lawmakers with different views put their heads together to come up with the best bills. But their failure to take on the kindergarten bills at the very least raises doubts about our legislative system.

There are concerns that the election and judiciary reform bills that are also on a fast track may now face the same fate as the kindergarten bills. The parties should deliberate on the reform bills carefully and properly before sending them to the plenary session.