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

[yodermon]

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