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Korea Falls into Coma

Posted June. 28, 2008 10:21,   

한국어

Almost the entire state administration has slipped into coma as candlelight vigils turn into illegal, violent demonstrations and the government faces difficulty in punishing unlawful protesters in accordance with the law. It is hard to tell when the current political turmoil will end. The lawmakers of the 18th National Assembly, who should embrace the public’s different opinions and reflect them in the law and government policies, have not even held a single parliamentary session, despite the fact that it has already been a month since they received their first paycheck with tax payers’ money.

Dereliction of the Assembly`s duty

The 18th National Assembly, which started its term on May 30, is still standing with its arms crossed, even though police and journalists have been assaulted and the heart of the nation, the Seoul City Hall Plaza and Gwanghwamun intersection, has been marred by violent protests for the last two months.

An increasing number of people are now even questioning why the National Assembly, responsible for realizing representative democracy, and the government, responsible for protecting the lives and safety of the people, should even exist. Some lawmakers, who deliberately hampered the opening of the parliament, are even taking to the streets to join illegal protests.

In response to labor unions` strikes and soaring oil and raw material prices, which deal a severe blow to Korea’s economy, the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) immediately drew up measures to stabilize the livelihood of the people. However, those measures are now hibernating in the drawers of public servants as the National Assembly, which should provide legal support, has been on strike for the past month.

“The irony is that while lawmakers receive paychecks for doing nothing, low income earners, who are in desperate need of help, have been unable to receive benefits because of the lawmakers,“ a political observer said on Friday.

Vegetable Cabinet

It has already been almost 20 days since all Cabinet members, including Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, expressed their willingness to step down, causing a vacuum in the state administration.

Ministries with ministers highly likely to be replaced have almost stopped working. Other ministries, where the replacement of their ministers is unclear, are focusing solely on the atmosphere of Cheong Wa Dae and political circles.

The Prime Minister’s office, which planned to engage in resources diplomacy in Africa in July, has virtually stopped its preparation. The employees of the Agriculture and Welfare ministries are in a dilemma over whether to submit documents now or wait until a new minister takes office.

Economy-related ministries have also lost their confidence to make “economic revival policies” as the economy continues to be severely hit with high oil prices, the weak won, and the international financial crisis. Except for the ongoing measure for high oil prices, all measures, including those that should be urgently fine-tuned between ministries, have been put on the backburner.

“Senior officials are paying all their attention to what will soon happen to them, while middle and low ranking public servants are focusing on personnel changes that will be made after the (Cabinet) shakeup,” a government official said.

Downtown Seoul paralyzed everyday

The first candlelight rally was held peacefully on May 2. However, some protesters began to use violence at a rally at the end of May, and have been unlawfully occupying the road, damaging police buses, and assaulting police officers every night since then.

Cultural events, which were planned to be held at Seoul City Hall Plaza and Cheonggye Plaza have been called off one after the other and the number of customers at shops near the Sejong-ro area, central Seoul, has dramatically reduced as people have begun to avoid going near protest sites.

Traffic to major roads, such as Sejong-ro, Sinmun-ro, and Sajing-ro, has been blocked every evening from 7 p.m. And public inconvenience continues to worsen as all vehicles including taxis and buses have been forced to detour.