DLP lawmarker fills chamber with tear gas in protest against FTA

Rep. Kim Sun-dong (center at the podium) of the Democratic Labor Party stands in silent protest after detonating a tear gas grenade and dousing himself with the powder to block the approval of the free trade agreement with the U.S. in the National Assembly on Tuesday (Park Hyun-ku/The Korea Herald)

The National Assembly passed the free trade agreement with the U.S. Tuesday as the main hall descended into chaos reminiscent of a protest movement, complete with tear gas.

The long and tumultuous journey for the Korea-U.S. FTA came to an end after the ruling Grand National Party spearheaded the pact through parliament despite inhaling tear gas released when an opposition lawmaker detonated a grenade. 

At 4:05 p.m., roughly five minutes after an abrupt plenary session by ruling party members began, Rep. Kim Sun-dong of the Democratic Labor Party unleashed the gas grenade at the foot of the main hall’s podium.

Following a loud explosion, Kim gathered the CS gas powder from the floor and threw it at the vice-speaker behind the podium. Kim then covered himself with the tear gas powder and stood in what appeared to be silent protest. Fellow lawmakers scrambled to cover their faces.

Coughing and shedding tears, lawmakers ran out of the main hall in what one lawmaker described as “pandemonium.”

Some rushed to the nearest restrooms to wash their faces in hopes of alleviating the pain.

“Is the Grand National Party even afraid of history and the Korean people?” Kim said, kicking and screaming in protest as security dragged him out of the hall.

This incident marks the first time a tear gas grenade has been detonated within the parliament’s walls. It is not, however, the first weapon, as it has seen the use of hammers and chainsaws.

According to lawmakers, Kim was seen carrying a bag into the Assembly and, upon reaching the podium, Kim revealed a grenade from within the bag and pulled the pin.

Medical assistance was called onto the scene as some of the lawmakers experienced difficulty breathing.

Shortly after, at roughly 4:20 p.m., Vice Speaker Chung Ui-hwa and other lawmakers re-entered the main hall, while the parliament’s administrative staff attempted to clean the mess with vacuum cleaners.

At 4:24 p.m. Chung announced the approval of the pact amid violent protest by opposition lawmakers, many of whom donned surgical masks because of the gas.

The trade pact was passed in a 151-7 vote, about a month after the U.S. Congress ratified the accord.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)