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

[madrchsod]

1. one thing about the koreans...they don`t fuck around!

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

[Hotler]

2. FTA, Fucking over workers world wide....And our congress voted for it.

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

[alp227]

8. They're STILL waiting for those billionaire fairies to bring them jobs!

[Hotler]

3. opps , double post

[Odin2005]

4. The iron fist of Fascism.

[krispos42]

5. Well, we're fucked.

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.

[Dr_Scholl]

7. North Korea would get stomped

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

[krispos42]

9. I doubt the South Koreans match your optimism.

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.

[malthaussen]

6. But.... but.... but...

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

-- Mal

[populist3]

10. interesting that some news reports didnt tell that the vote didn't include the oppostion and that it

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.

[freshwest]

11. M$M mantra: If you're against these deals, you're a bigot or terrorist, other countries love them!