Anchor: The rival political parties agreed to refrain from picketing and heckling opponents at the National Assembly. The agreement was reached after a meeting between the floor leaders of the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party on Monday amid criticism that parliament is more focused on political disputes than their legislative duties.
Max Lee reports.

Report: Tensions between the ruling People Power Party(PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party(DP) have a history of escalating into heated exchanges at the National Assembly.

Such conduct, however, has proven to be unpopular with the public as a joint survey conducted by four local pollsters published earlier this month found that 75-percent of respondents aged 18 and over had a negative opinion of the current National Assembly, criticizing lawmakers for spending more time on political disputes than on their legislative duties.

With success in next April’s general elections high on the agenda for both parties, the PPP and DP agreed to improve the parliamentary culture and promised to refrain from engaging in picketing and heckling of opponents.

The parties announced the agreement on Tuesday after a meeting between the floor leaders of the rival parties the previous day.

PPP floor leader Yun Jae-ok said the two parties saw eye to eye on the need to improve the atmosphere in the meeting rooms and have agreed not to carry or display placards both inside the Plenary Chamber and in standing committee meetings, as well as refraining from shouting at or heckling opponents.

According to DP floor leader Hong Ihk-pyo, the two sides also agreed not to interrupt speakers when they deliver addresses, adding that he will deliver the promises to DP members in a party meeting soon and ask for their consent.

The rare agreement between the two parties came after a series of incidents where lawmakers showed unruly behavior at the National Assembly, interrupting speeches and boycotting audits for hours.

Such was the case during a parliamentary audit by the National Defense Committee earlier this month that was postponed for eight hours after PPP lawmakers refused to open the meeting in response to pickets hung by main opposition lawmakers calling for the government to withdraw its appointment of the new defense minister.
Max Lee, KBS World Radio News.