Rival parties have agreed to scrap controversial funds set aside for lawmakers in the name of special activity expenses.
Democratic Party floor leader Hong Young-pyo made the announcement of the complete abolishment of the funds at the start of a meeting this morning with Parliamentary Speaker Moon Hee-sang and other party floor leaders.
Liberty Korea Party floor leader Kim Sung-tae also said he was glad to be getting rid of an unfair system in society.
The agreement is a reverse in stance by the main rival parties, which earlier agreed to manage the funds more transparently by disclosing receipts.
The decision came after the National Assembly faced public criticism over reports that ranking lawmakers have been provided with up to 60 million won worth of special activity funds every month, for which they were not required to file receipts.
The budget on special activity funds is known to have been set at some 6 billion won this year.■
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