[Editorial] GNP Should Return to Nat'l Assembly

It is very unfortunate that the Grand National Party (GNP) is so upset about the fact other parties went ahead and passed the revision to the Private School Law that it is thinking of boycotting the extraordinary session of the National Assembly and taking to the streets in protest. GNP chairwoman Park Geun Hye claims the goal of the revision is "not transparency at private schools but instilling anti-American, pro-North ideology in students' minds." It is typical red-baiting and it is an ideological offensive.

The GNP's claims contradict the position it took during the negotiations. At one point, it offered to vote in favor of the revision if the other parties agreed to simultaneously approve of more "self-sufficient private high schools." So all it is saying is that it was willing to have children taught anti-American and pro-North Korean ideology in exchange for "self-sufficient private high schools."

The confrontation over revising the Private School Law is an expression of a complex combination of factors; a fight over which party gets the upper hand in the political atmosphere and a desire to bring together traditional bases of support. The ruling Uri Party's vote to approve the revision can also be seen in that context. However, one needs to stay open-minded even when returning to one's support base. The GNP opposed the revision, something long desired by educators so as to better guarantee that private schools benefit the public and have transparency, and yet it never offered any alternatives. Then, when the Korea Foundation for the Promotion of Private Schools came out so vehemently opposed to the revision, the GNP responded by boycotting the Assembly. You wonder whether it is being responsible as the major opposition party to just rush to take advantage of elements that go so far as to threaten to close down their schools. It is because of that approach that the GNP is criticized for being the spokesman for a small, privileged part of the population.

Starting Monday at the extraordinary Assembly session, lawmakers are supposed to tackle a large pile of items on the agenda, including next year's budget, the bill to revise the "comprehensive real estate law," and legalization designed to protect irregular workers. All are issues closely related to the people's welfare, something frequently invoked by the GNP. It needs to regain its composure and return to the National Assembly.

The Hankyoreh, 12 December 2005.

[Translations by Seoul Selection]