Park appeals to politicians to help her serve nation

President Park Geun-hye appealed to politicians Thursday to give her a chance to serve the nation, apparently referring to the ongoing parliamentary impasse over her government reorganization bill. "I think our political leaders should all once again reflect on their proper duties," Park said in an address to an annual gathering of church leaders, known as the "National Prayer Breakfast."Park has made a series of appeals calling on the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) to help pass the bill that has been pending in parliament since the end of January. The bill aims to create new government ministries and offices, and reassign duties among existing ones. The deadlock stems from opposition concerns that the government is trying to control the media by transferring some duties of the watchdog Korea Communications Commission (KCC) to the future creation and science ministry to be created under the bill. Park has insisted she has no plans to do so and will not compromise on what she says is a necessary move for the country's future. "Our country is faced with an internal and external environment that is more difficult than ever," Park said, citing economic difficulties among the working class and heightened security concerns following North Korea's recent nuclear test and hostile threats. "The new government was launched amid such difficult circumstances, but regretfully it hasn't even been able to start working properly." The parliamentary impasse, coupled with a delay in the parliamentary confirmation process for Cabinet nominees, has created a vacuum in the running of state affairs since Park took office 10 days ago. "The reason I wanted to become president was so that, in these difficult times, I could open an era in which people are happy and make (the giving of) hope and service to the people my last political journey," Park said. "The people expressed their confidence and trust (in that), and I would be grateful if our politicians could also trust the president and give (me) a chance to serve the nation." Shortly after Park's address, the ruling Saenuri Party proposed a vote at the National Assembly to end the deadlock. Rep. Lee Hahn-koo, the floor leader of the Saenuri Party, suggested his party and the DUP ask Assembly speaker Kang Chang-hee to use his authority to put the bill to a vote even when the parliament is not in session. The offer comes a day after DUP floor leader Park Ki-choon offered to accept the transfer of KCC duties in return for three concessions from the president and the ruling party. The conditions are that they agree to strengthen appointment criteria for the management of public broadcasting firms, hold parliamentary hearings on a massive media walkout last year and force the resignation of the head of public broadcaster MBC. There isn't yet agreement on the KCC issue, but since we have mostly reached a compromise on the rest of the bill, I propose we revise it in line with our agreements and give each lawmaker a chance to vote on it," Lee said at a Supreme Council meeting of his party. His DUP counterpart Park rejected the offer, saying the parties should follow due parliamentary procedures. "I do, however, agree to excluding the part related to the KCC and putting the rest of the bill to a vote," he told Yonhap News Agency by phone.