GNP lawmaker Chun Yu-ok is escorted by security guards after being attacked by an activist at the National Assembly, Friday. / Korea Times photo
by Choi Heung-soo |
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Police arrested a 68-year old woman identified as Lee, Friday, for allegedly attacking Rep. Chun Yu-ok of the governing Grand National Party (GNP).
According to Chun’s aide, four or five swearing activists rushed the lawmaker in the National Assembly building and punched her around the head, scratched her face and poked her in the eye, while pulling at her hair.
Chun was taken to a Seoul hospital shortly after the attack for treatment of an injury to her eye.
Lee, an activist of a Busan-based civic group established to promote the rights of victims sent to prison under military dictatorships for being involved in pro-democracy demonstrations in the 1980s, allegedly attacked the female lawmaker over her revision bills that redefine pro-democracy activists. Police said she denied the allegation.
Chun announced Thursday that she would submit a measure aimed at reviewing earlier decisions that acknowledged activists who participated in demonstrations against the dictatorship and political prisoners as pro-democracy activists.
The move drew criticism from liberal civic groups, including the Busan-based non-profit group of which Lee is a member.
Civic group activists staged a protest against Chun Friday, calling for scrapping her plan.
National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o expressed worries over the incident, calling it shocking and very regrettable.
``It is a terrorist attack against a lawmaker and shouldn’t be tolerated under any circumstances,’’ said Kim, urging police to investigate the case thoroughly.
GNP Spokesman Yoon Sang-hyun also urged a thorough probe of the case so that similar incidents do not recur.
hkang@koreatimes.co.kr
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