Lawmakers Oh Jang-seop, Lee Yang-hee and Lee Jae-sun quit the United Liberal Democrats, Thursday, with the latter two intending to join the Grand National Party, Friday, while Oh will remain independent for the time being. With the defections the ULD now has just 10 seats in the National Assembly and the GNP, 147. Also former Millennium Democratic Party representatives Kim Myong-seob and Kang Song-ku are expected to join the GNP.

(Heo Yong-beom, heo@chosun.com )