문 의장•여야 원내대표 회동...특활비 폐지하기로
There's been growing criticism from the public... over extra money lawmakers get monthly.
Mainly because they've been allowed to use it without having to report how it's spent.
It's agreed by the floor leaders of the country's three major parties.
No more "special activity" funds.
Kim Min-ji fill us in on this breakthrough at the National Assembly.
South Korea's rival parties have decided to do away with the so-called special activity funds for lawmakers.
The agreement was reached Monday in a meeting between the parliamentary speaker and the floor leaders of the three main parties.
Initially, the two biggest parties had agreed to keep the funds but use them only in cases where they can turn in receipts or documentation,... but in the end, they decided to join the minor parties in calling for the controversial funds to be scrapped altogether.
"I believe this is a bold decision that will go down in the country's political history. The National Assembly will decide quickly how to systematically go about scrapping the funds."
There has been controversy over the special activity funds... as some ranking lawmakers get tens of thousands of U.S. dollars a month, on top of their salary, but they've been under no obligation to report how the money is spent.
This year, the budget set for special activity funds in parliament is reportedly worth roughly 5-and-a-half million dollars.
The rival parties said they will lead efforts to do away with the funds... which could encourage other state entities to follow suit -- like the National Intelligence Service, the presidential office and the prosecution.
"For now, Monday's agreement only applies to the floor leaders of the negotiating parties. The Speaker will hold further discussions with the chairs of National Assembly's standing committees and those in other top parliamentary positions... and announce Thursday how they plan to improve the system."
However, some have raised concerns that the National Assembly could just end up expanding its budget for official expenses... to make up for the loss of the special activity funds.
Rival lawmakers haven't responded officially to that,... saying there needs to more discussion.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.
