WORLD> Asia-Pacific
S Korean parties move to normalize parliament
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-20 15:44

SEOUL  -- Rival political parties were moving Friday to put the crippled parliament back on track, following reports that the South Korean government neared an agreement with Washington on stricter import terms for US beef.

Concluding week-long talks, South Korean and US trade officials said they have reached a "mutually agreeable path," implying a positive outcome. Details of the additional negotiations are expected to be made public after Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon returns home Saturday.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak listens to a reporter's question after a public statement regarding the U.S. beef import deal at the presidential Blue House in Seoul June 19, 2008. South Korea's embattled president apologised on Thursday for a U.S. beef import deal that sparked mass street protests against his new government and will sack close aides to try to halt a dramatic slide in public support. [Agencies]

The reports came a day after President Lee Myung-bak made a public apology over his government's controversial beef trade deal signed on April 18, Yonhap news agency reported.

Lee assured the public that shipments of beef from older cattlewould be banned, emphasizing his will to "renew" the government with new Cabinet and presidential office members. Lee was set to replace all six senior presidential secretaries later in the day.

During a meeting late Thursday, floor leaders of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) and the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) agreed to normalize the parliament "as soon as possible," party officials said.

Three opposition parties led by the UDP have been boycotting the newly launched National Assembly since May 30, demanding measures to ban imports of US beef from older cattle which are deemed more vulnerable to mad cow disease.

GNP floor leader Hong Joon-pyo said during a party meeting Friday "We have our hopes up that the Assembly will be normalized soon following the president's sincere apology and the anticipated positive outcome of the additional beef talks."

The beef issue has been turning into the biggest political crisis for President Lee with his approval ratings nose-diving to a low-20 percent range in less than four months since he took office.

Opponents of the US beef import deal have taken to the streets since early May, demanding complete renegotiation of the April bilateral accord, a possibility that both countries have ruled out.

Striving to reverse the political tide against its rival's ongoing boycott over the beef uproar, the ruling party started off a campaign to donate salaries to charity amid the parliamentary paralysis.

Citing a "no work, no pay" principle, 26 ruling party legislators said they have asked the parliamentary secretariat to deposit their first month's salaries into a special bank account for the money to be given out to 377 charity organizations nationwide.