Rep. Lee Sang-deuk, secretary-general of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP), did everything but get down on his knees and beg when he met Ahn Dong-soo, vice president of KBS, Friday. Following the refusal of major TV stations, including KBS, to broadcast the debate of candidates for party chairman, Rep. Lee visited Ahn and begged for help. ¡°I would not say if you made the right decision or not. Just give us a break,¡± Lee told Ahn. From his attitude, one could see that Lee, who served as the CEO of a major corporation for over ten years and is now the secretary-general of the largest opposition party, was swallowing his pride to accomplish his goal.
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Secretary-general of the Grand National Party (GNP), Lee Sang-deuk, gives a deep bow at the end of an emergency party meeting on Friday night.
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However, a KBS vice president rejected Lee¡¯s repeated request saying, ¡°There is a dispute over impartiality. Besides, we do not feel it is proper to broadcast such a sensitive program ahead of the general elections.¡± When Lee heaved a sigh in despair, Jun Yeo-ok, GNP spokeswoman, said that she wanted to know what decision was made at what kind of a meeting on the matter. Then Ahn bluntly replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t it rude to ask in detail about another company¡¯s meeting?¡±
Ko Heung-kil, vice secretary-general of the GNP who is also serving as the chairman of the parliamentary Culture and Tourism Committee, tried to persuade Ahn by saying, ¡°The National Election Commission concluded that broadcasting the joint debate is not in violation of the election law and the people have the right to know who is running for the leadership of a major opposition party.¡± But it was of no use. At last, Lee proposed that KBS set up a guideline of what topics could be discussed at the debate, and that the GNP would follow these guidelines, but Ahn wrapped up the meeting only saying that he would consider the matter.
But at the conclusion of the meeting, about 10 members of the KBS labor union lined up in front of the meeting room and asked the GNP to stop ¡®the suppression of the press.¡¯ ¡°The huge opposition stop oppressing the press!¡± they shouted. Some members broke into the meeting room and yelled at GNP lawmakers, ¡°Our meeting with the management has been delayed for more than one hour because you came without a prior appointment. Finish your conversation quickly and come back!¡±
Angered by them, Rep. Kim Moon-soo, a former labor activist, protested, ¡°We did not invade here nor are we making a disturbance. We were just talking quietly with your vice president. I myself was a labor union member but I was not like you now.¡± Then, a labor unionist said, ¡°The party that impeached the president came here. How can you say it isn¡¯t oppression?¡± Leaving the KBS building with bitter emotions, Rep. Lee murmured to himself, ¡°I feel so pathetic to be an opposition lawmaker. I bet a dog would get better treatment than I received.¡±
(Ahn Yong-kyun, agon@chosun.com )
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