South Korea Tearfully Ratifies Free-Trade Pact With the U.S.

Source: ABC News

SEOUL - South Korea’s parliament ratified a long-stalled, free-trade agreement with the United States today amid brawling and shouting by some members opposing the pact, including a lawmaker who threw a tear gas canister at the speaker’s podium.

After an evacuation of hundreds, the controversial deal passed 151-7, with most opposition members absent. The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) had called a surprise parliamentary session in order to push it through, taking advantage of its majority status.

Kim Sun-Dong, a member of the minority Democratic Labor Party who set off the canister, repeatedly shouted “No to FTA (Free Trade Agreement)!” and “GNP, aren’t you afraid of history and the people,” as security guards wrestled him out of the floor. Legislators coughed and wiped tears as they rammed the free-trade deal through.

Sledge hammers, water hoses and electric saws were among the items used by opposition members to protest in the past, but this is the first in history tear gas was detonated.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/11/south-korea-tearfully-ratifies-free-trade-pact-with-the-u-s/

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151-7? Most opposition members absent? Surprise parliamentary session?
Someone was taking notes from Wisconsin.

Are there no quorum rules in the S. Korean assembly?

ON EDIT: Quorum rules are 1/2 of all members. There are 299 members.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_South_Korea#Legislative_branch

another bad trade for the usa and korea.plus the koreans are losing good jobs to the chinese

Hey Teabaggers, still think the republicans really care about you?

And maybe so are the South Koreans.


And when the North decides to move in on Seoul, neither of use will be able to stop them.

if they invaded South Korea. We wouldn't even have to intervene.

Although I suppose we can always make money supplying the ROK after they've hollowed out their manufacturing base and shipped all their jobs to Bangladesh or something.

This FTA will be good for all and will create jobs! Our President has told us so!

-- Mal

was very close if they had been allowed in the chamber. Why keep them out if you had a majoirty?, probably because their presence might have emboldened some of the majority party to vote against.