(영자신문 사설) 'Tear gas' legislator must be punished to prevent similar recurrence

국내 영자신문 사설입니다. 국내 사건 혹은 우리가 잘 아는 국제 사건을 다루고 있으므로 영어실력이 딸려도 충분히 추측하며 볼 수 있습니다.

초중급 정도의 실력에서는 징검다리 역할을 하는 이런 글을 많이 보시는 것이 실력향상에 아주 유리합니다. 단어는 절대 찾지 마시고 그냥 추측하며 읽으시기 바랍니다. 커스를 단어 위에 대기만 하면 발음과 뜻을 보여주는 다음사전 정도는 사용해도 좋습니다.

(Yonhap Editorial) 'Tear gas' legislator must be punished to prevent similar recurrence

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly's secretariat has said it intends to seek legal action against Rep. Kim Sun-dong of the Democratic Labor Party for detonating a canister of tear gas during a plenary session vote on the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement.

   The National Assembly could charge Kim with defamation against the parliamentary speaker, which can be punished by up to three years in prison or a maximum 7 million won (US$6,052) in fines, or obstruction of duty, which has a maximum punishment of four and half years in prison.

   Tear gas, mostly used to quell violent protests, is a dangerous substance that could have directly harmed Kim's parliamentary colleagues. This is why Kim, who wreaked havoc at a venue of the people through an act unprecedented in the country's constitutional history, can hardly be forgiven.

   It is the prevailing view that Kim needs to be severely punished, even if only for the sake of preventing a similar recurrence. He must take legal responsibility, and the National Assembly should consider putting him before the parliamentary ethics committee. Should the punishment be too soft, there is no telling what could happen next.

   Kim likened himself to independence fighters Ahn Jung-geun and Yoon Bong-gil in describing his actions. He added that he wanted to blow up the ruling party-controlled parliament. He may have wanted to justify his desperation to stop the ruling party from unilaterally passing the FTA, but comparing himself to the men who sacrificed their lives for Korea's independence is a downright defilement of the two heroes.

   The National Assembly has been degraded from a venue of the people to the forefront of violence. Democratic discourse has disappeared. The opposition lawmakers have resorted to everything from electric chain saws and hammers, and now tear gas, in their attempts to stop the FTA's passage in 2008 and 2011. They have brought disgrace to our country, and people no longer have any expectations left.

   To end this cycle, a bill on preventing parliamentary violence must be passed in the current session. A draft bill was agreed to by the ruling and opposition parties in June but has yet to pass the committee in charge of deliberations. Laws must be supplemented so that legislators are held accountable for violence committed by their aides. Passing the bill is the best way available to wash off whatever is possible of the disgrace. Lawmakers should consider our plea to pass the bill as the final responsibility and grave mission for the current session.

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