Gridlock Continues

Parliament remained gridlocked Monday despite the ruling party's pledge to return to the 217th extra session of the National Assembly. The party boycotted the assembly to protest the opposition attempt to shield its vicepresident from arrest over his alleged role in a slush fund scandal. The opposition Grand National Party called Monday for a special prosecutor to be appointed to look into the supposed slush funds of both camps.

Meanwhile, the ruling Millennium Democratic Party pressed the opposition to support the prosecution's attempt to arrest the opposition vice president, Rep. Kang Samjae. He has been summoned to answer questions about his alleged role when the national spy agency funneled funds to the former ruling camp during the 1996 election. The ruling floor leader, Rep. Chung Kyunhwan, proposed that the opposition approve the prosecution's request that it arrest the sitting lawmaker for his alleged central role in the slush fund scandal.

The opposition floor leader, Rep. Chung Changwha, in turn urged that a special prosecutor look into four major political slush funds including those of President Kim Daejung. The prosecution presented a formal request to the opposition representatives to gain their consent for the arrest of Mr. Kang. Prosecutors decided to press ahead with the step as he continued to defy a summons.

by Lee Soo-ho