By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter


Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan leaves the National Assembly, which has been temporarily paralyzed by Lee’s remarks against the main opposition Grand National Party, Friday. / Korea Times


The political gridlock resulting from Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan’s remarks against the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has escalated into a major feud, darkening prospects for legislative progress during the remainder of the regular session of the National Assembly.

Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan on Friday rebutted GNP’s demand for an apology for his remarks, saying the GNP should first apologize for calling the government ``left-wing.’’

``The GNP’s ideological attack is groundless,’’ Lee said during a meeting with some of the Uri Party members. ``It is undermining South Korea’s global competitiveness, creating difficulties in attracting foreign investment to the nation.’’

Meanwhile, the GNP boycotted the parliamentary interpellation session for a second consecutive day while urging President Roh Moo-hyun to dismiss Lee for his repeated ``disparaging remarks’’ against the party.

``Lee’s remarks were definitely politically motivated and ignored his responsibility as a premier to maintain political neutrality,’’ GNP spokesman Yim Tae-hee told reporters after the party’s caucus. ``We call on the president to sack him.’’

Yim also said that the GNP would submit a resolution recommending the prime minister be dismissed unless Roh accepts its request. ``We will boycott the remaining interpellation session as well as regular session of the National Assembly unless this issue is resolved.’’

After Lee’s harsh remarks on Thursday, angry GNP lawmakers boycotted the scheduled afternoon session and demanded Lee make a ``sincere apology.’’

``We can not tolerate Lee’s irresponsible remarks anymore,’’ GNP floor leader Kim Deog-ryong argued. ``This is not a matter that can be resolved with just an apology. Roh should sack his problematic prime minister.’’

The ruling Uri Party leadership tried to normalize the stalled plenary session, though some lawmakers still vowed to stand up to what they called ``extreme conservatives’’ in the GNP.

``I think Lee went too far and I hopes he expresses regret over the issue so we could resume the Assembly session,’’ said Lee Bu-young, chairman of the Uri Party, adding that the GNP should also stop its reckless ideological remarks against the Uri Party.

Some GNP lawmakers on Thursday criticized some of the young members of the Uri Party, including Rep. Song Young-gil, calling them ``followers of Kim Il-sung’s communist ideology.’’

The second day of the week-long session was supposed to conduct inspection of the government’s policies on foreign affairs, national security and North Korean issues.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr