KOREA: Parties trade accusations of pre-electioneering

Grand National Party says the Democratic Party's rallies against recently passed media bills are illegal pre-electioneering

The Korea Times
Monday, August 3, 2009

By Do Je-hae

The governing and opposition parties traded accusations Monday of illegal pre-electioneering ahead of by-elections slated for Oct. 28.

The governing Grand National Party (GNP) accused the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) of engaging in illicit pre-electioneering by holding anti-government rallies to protest the passaging of bills aimed at reshaping the media industry.

Since the parliamentary passage of the bills July 22, the DP has vowed to nullify the vote and has been staging rallies nationwide to publicize their intent.

Over the weekend, the largest opposition party held rallies in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, and Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, where by-elections will be held.

It also held rallies in Busan, where National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o was elected in the last general elections, denouncing Kim for having invoked his power to present the disputed bills for a vote.

"Such rallies are aimed at wielding political influence over electoral districts of certain GNP lawmakers," GNP Secretary General Rep. Jang Kwang-keun said.

The Democrats have called on Kim and several other GNP lawmakers, including Vice Speaker Lee Yoon-sung and La Kyung-won, the chief GNP negotiator on the media bills, to take responsibility for "having railroaded" the bills and step down from their posts.

"We will seek legal measures if the DP continues activities that constitute pre-electioneering," Jang said.

"A recent document issued by the DP display the party's obvious intention to cause disadvantages for certain politicians," GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo said at a meeting of the party's decision-making Supreme Council.

The GNP asked the National Election Commission (NEC) to look into the four-page document in question, which deals with the DP's plans to hold protest rallies aimed at informing the public of alleged irregularities in the voting process of the media bills.

"The Democrats must put an immediate end to misleading the public with such illegal campaign efforts," Ahn said.

However, the DP maintained that the document was part of their routine activities and had nothing to do with campaigning for any election.

On Monday, the opposition party disclosed video footage of some GNP lawmakers engaging in proxy voting during the parliamentary session to vote on the media bills, but the governing party dismissed the claims.

So far, it has been confirmed that the three districts -- Ansan in Gyeonggi Province; Yangsan in South Gyeongsang Province; and Gangneung in Gangwon Province -- will hold by-elections.

Depending on the Supreme Court's ruling in the near future, at least two more constituencies, including Eunpyeong in Seoul and Suwon in Gyeonggi Province, may be added to the list, NEC officials said.

Date Posted: 8/3/2009