Korea's parliament speaker on Thursday said lawmakers should give up their immunity from arrest privilege in line with getting rid of special rights that have drawn public flak.

"Immunity from arrest should be abolished," National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun said. "While the privilege was needed in the past to protect the opposition party (from authoritarian governments), the policy is now abused to protect lawmakers who commit wrong deeds."

Korean law currently bans arresting lawmakers during parliamentary sessions without approval from the National Assembly.

The parliament can also demand the release of detained lawmakers prior to the opening of a National Assembly session.

Concerning the controversial anti-graft law, Chung said it should first be implemented as scheduled, with revisions being made gradually when flaws and loopholes are found.

The so-called Kim Young-ran law, named after its proposer, subjects public officials, journalists and private school faculty to a maximum penalty of three years in prison or five times the amount accepted in money or valuables if they are worth more than 1 million won ($900) from one person in one installment with a max annual limit set at 3 million won, regardless of whether or not it was in exchange for favors.

"We should first implement (the Kim Young-ran law), and fix it next year if there are any problems or iniquity," Chung added.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission made a preannouncement of legislation stipulating that public officials, journalists and private school faculty who are treated to meals costing more than 30,000 won can be fined. It is the same as what is stipulated in the current code of conduct for public officials.

The ordinances that go into effect in September also set the ceiling for gifts at 50,000 won, and money for congratulations and condolences at 100,000 won. (Yonhap)