Across Asia: Republic of Korea

Opposition ready for talks

Opposition lawmakers in the Republic of Korea (ROK) who have paralyzed parliament for weeks by physically blocking sessions said yesterday they were ready to discuss bills needed to help the economy through the global financial crisis.

The opposition has delayed votes on about 85 measures the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) wants to quickly pass. "Parliament will be normalized once trust is restored," Chung Se-kyun, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, said, adding he was ready to discuss scores of the least contentious bills proposed by the ruling party.