GNP prepares push for FTA ratification

Rival parties are once again facing a standoff over the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement as the ruling party is set to push for its ratification despite opposition.

“The main opposition Democratic Party effectively called off its FTA renegotiation plan, as it agreed to cooperate in the ratification processes in exchange for reinforcing protective measures for local industries,” said Rep. Nam Kyung-pil of the ruling Grand National Party on Wednesday.

Should the DP continue trying to block the bill, however, the GNP will have to push ahead with the ratification single-handedly, he added.

The parliamentary foreign affairs and trade committee chairman earlier pledged repeatedly not to force the bill through without the opposition’s cooperation.

His change of stance was largely backed by party chairman Rep. Hong Joon-pyo.

“We plan to send the bill for a vote in the plenary session on Thursday as we have said,” said Hong on Tuesday during the party’s Supreme Council meeting.

He thus urged committees to finish reviewing related bills by late Wednesday.

The committee failed last week to handle the bill as opposition lawmakers blocked its final floor vote by occupying the room.

The DP, while celebrating the victory of opposition-backed liberal candidate Park Won-soon in the Seoul mayoral race, vowed to block the GNP’s plans for ratification.

“The ruling party is attempting to speed up the process of the trade bill in order to turn the people’s attention away from the by-election results,” said DP chairman Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu Thursday.

DP floor leader Kim Jin-pyo once again stressed that protective measures for local industries should first be legislated and guaranteed.

While parties failed to compromise on the trade bill schedule, President Lee Myung-bak wrote a letter to parliamentarians, urging them to speed up the ratification, officials said Monday.

In his letter addressing all 295 lawmakers, Lee is expected to appeal to opposition members to at least abide by parliamentary rules.

The DP, however, denounced the president’s letter as an action guideline for the GNP and blackmail against the opposition camp.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)