Bailout Debate at Standstill With Lawmakers Squabbling

The parliamentary hearing that is supposed to determine how effectively and transparently the government used the 110-trillion-won ($85.7 billion) in public money designated for the restructuring of the economy failed to convene for the second straight day Wednesday. Ruling and opposition law-makers continued to fight over the format of the questions.

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party, President Kim Dae-jung's party, favors interrogating witnesses either as individuals or in small groups. Those to be summoned include bank heads and former and incumbent finance and economy ministers.

The opposition Grand National Party, however, IS opposed, preferring simultaneous questioning of all witnesses. "We are refusing to white-wash the parliament's attempt to look into how the first-round of the public funds were used," the opposition party said through its spokesman.

The ruling party, in response, said that it would push ahead with the hearings with support from its coalition partner, the United Liberal Democrats. "The hearings are for the people, not for one specific party," the ruling party said through its spokesman.

by Kim Jung-wook