Row over fast-tracked bills

Rival parties should seek compromise through dialogue

The floor leaders of the three major parties met Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss bills on electoral and prosecutorial reforms that were fast-tracked. But their meetings ended with no agreement.

In April, the governing Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) joined forces with minor opposition parties to fast-track the controversial bills, including one adopting a new proportional representation system in which National Assembly seats are tied to the percentage of voter support for each party. As the fast-track process draws to an end, the election reform bill can be put to vote at a plenary session of the Assembly.

The DPK and the main conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) have been bickering over the bills since April. The ruling party is adamant that it would railroad them in cooperation with the minor opposition parties so that the Election Law can reflect the will of the people more fairly. The LKP, which fears losing seats under the new election system that would raise the number of proportional representatives in favor of smaller parties, is asking the DPK to forsake the contentious bill and discuss the matter from scratch.

On Monday, DPK Chairman Lee Haechan visited his LKP counterpart Hwang Kyoahn who has been on a hunger strike in front of Cheong Wa Dae to protest the ruling party's fast-track process. Lee asked Hwang to stop fasting and return to negotiations to discuss the bills. Lee's visit to the opposition leader is encouraging as it signals the DPK's commitment to finding a compromise.

It is true that it has been customary to amend the Election Law ― the rules of the game ― under bipartisan agreements since 1987 when democracy took root in Korea. The rival parties should spare no effort to break the current deadlock and find a compromise through dialogue. This is the least lawmakers can do for the public that is fed up with political bickering and partisan struggles in the face of looming economic woes.